Janelle Linnea Van Orman

Janelle Linnea Van Orman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, was welcomed home to her Heavenly Father on October 28, 2026, at the age of 82, in Raymond, Alberta. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she lived a life centered on the Savior and her family, filled with music and love generously shared.

Janelle was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 18, 1944, to Don LaVelle Smith and Mildred Jane Smith, while her father was serving in the Navy. She spent her early years in Hawaii and Florida before her family moved to Sandy, Utah, when she was 12. She graduated from Jordan High School and attended the University of Utah. She loved to dance and performed ballroom dancing in Salt Lake City.

While they were both serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montreal, Canada, Janelle met Ronald Van Orman. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 23, 1968. During their courtship, when Ron felt uncertain, Janelle would reassure him, “As long as one of us is sure.” Her confidence became a familiar strength throughout their life together.

Family was at the heart of Janelle’s life. Nothing mattered more to her than the family she and Ron were building together, and she wanted to welcome as many children as God would send her. She and Ron made their first home in Calgary, where Toni, Troy, and Michael were born while Ron completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Early in their marriage, they served as stake dance directors, sharing her love of ballroom dancing by teaching others. Although they attended a ward where Ron was already well known from his youth, it took only a few weeks before he became known as “Janelle’s husband.” They moved to Vancouver in 1973 for Ron’s doctoral studies, welcoming Jason and Adam during their years there. In 1975, they settled in Raymond, where Gareth, Tiffany, Jared, David, and Christopher were born.

Raising ten children filled Janelle’s days, and she brought creativity and energy to her home through sewing, crochet, and the many demands of family life. She always made room for conversation. Her bedroom door was always open, and her children often came to sit on her bed and talk. She wanted their friends to feel equally comfortable in her home. That welcome extended to David’s friend Ulysses McNee, whom she took into their home when he needed support. He became a cherished part of their lives and later left for his mission from their home.

Her generosity was thoughtful as well as abundant. She understood that accepting help could be difficult, and she found ways to make it easier. She sometimes gave away milk from the family cow to those who needed it—even when that meant buying milk for her own household. What mattered was that someone else had enough and could accept it comfortably.

Music was central to Janelle’s life. She sang, played piano and guitar, and brought people together through the many choirs she led. Her musical work reached across church and community, including youth and high school graduation choirs. She pushed choir members to memorize the words so they could look up and sing without reading from their music during performances. Her combination of confidence, enthusiasm, and fun inspired them to meet her high expectations. A treasured highlight was leading the choir for the rededication of the Alberta Temple in June of 1991 and receiving a personal compliment from President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Her faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to His gospel shaped her life. She served faithfully in her Church callings, including Young Women and Relief Society presidencies, and worked as a seminary secretary, helping support her older children’s missions. Her love for the Savior found daily expression in caring for her family, welcoming others, and sharing her gifts. Her siblings remembered her as someone who could do almost anything, who loved God wholeheartedly, and who remained involved in their lives. Strong and capable, she was also someone they could turn to for comfort. Even through considerable health challenges, they rarely heard her complain.

Janelle is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ronald; her children, Toni (Daniel) Johnson, Troy (Yuko) Van Orman, Michael (Christy) Van Orman, Jason Van Orman, Adam (Rachel) Van Orman, Gareth (Natasha) Van Orman, Tiffany (Raymond) Peachey, Jared (Toni) Van Orman, David (Alisha) Van Orman, and Christopher (Stephanie) Van Orman; 39 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Sheila Miller, Brian (Marsha) Smith, Luana Green and Terry Crook, Kerry Smith, and Erin (Bruce) Nelson; and her brother-in-law Robert McLeod. She was preceded in death by her sisters Lani Nelson and her husband, Ronald, and Tracie McLeod; her brother Damon Smith; and her brother-in-law Phillip Miller, and sister-in-law Sharon Smith.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Knight Street Chapel in Raymond, Alberta. Family and friends are invited to meet with the family at the chapel from noon to 1:00 p.m., before the service.

Live-stream will be available and a link will appear below this obituary 15 min before service time.