Fr. Jan Russell Larson Obituary (1942 - 2021)

Fr. Jan Larson, a senior priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle went home to the Lord Jesus on December 30, 2021. He was at peace and surrounded by his family. Fr. Larson was born to Martin and Edna Larson on April 22, 1942 in Yakima Washington. He grew up in North Seattle. He attended Blanchet High School and after his freshman year followed a calling to St. Edward Seminary. He worked at CYO camps in the summers during these years, and his love for God's creation and being in nature as a young man remained a fixture throughout his life. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. James Cathedral in Seattle on May 18, 1968 by Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Mary Magdalen in Everett (1968-1971). He was a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Fatima in Seattle (1971-1974) and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Seattle (1974-1976). He served as pastor in several parishes including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Seattle (1977-1986), St. Bernadette in Burien (1986-1987), St. Anthony of Padua in Carnation (1999-2007), Holy Innocents in Duvall (1999-2004) and Our Lady of Sorrows in Snoqualmie, where he was pastor for 16 years (1992-2007). He received his M.A. in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame and a D.Min. in pastoral liturgy from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and was Director of the Office of Worship from 1987 to 1992. He was generous with sharing his advice and passion for the liturgy with others in a spirit of respect and dialogue, and of course a healthy sense of humor. He remained a liturgical consultor for the next 14 years. He made many friends along the way in these assignments, and was one who valued consultative leadership and decision making in parish life. Fr. Jan loved being a priest. He enjoyed studying. He enjoyed hiking, skiing and mountain climbing- he climbed Mt. Rainier eight times! He enjoyed his cabin at Snoqualmie Pass. Each December he hosted his brother priests in observance of St. Lucy Day. He taught himself to play the five string banjo. As a senior priest, Fr. Larson remained engaged with the needs of his brother priests and the parishes on the eastside near his home in North Bend. He was a gifted painter and photographer. Fr. Larson faced cancer without fear and was indeed ready for this next part of his journey. He leaves behind his brother Buzz and his wife JoAnn, his niece Mary and her son Paddy and a number of cousins across the country. His Snoqualmie Valley parishioners and friends will truly mourn his passing. A Vigil will be held Sunday January 16th at 2:00pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Church 39062 SE Beta Street, Snoqualmie, WA. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday January 17th at 10:00am at St. James Cathedral 804 9th Ave., Seattle. Archbishop Etienne will preside. Committal Service will be Monday January 17th at Calvary Cemetery 5041 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. Contributions may be made to St. James Cathedral Kitchen, 901 Terry Ave., Seattle 98104, or Our Lady of Sorrows St. Vincent dePaul Society, both helping our neighbors in need.