A tireless advocate for Richmond’s tired, poor and huddled masses has passed away at the age of 85.
Jennifer Larsen — who volunteered for a number of local social service agencies and churches and could often be found pounding the pavement helping the homeless in her spare time — will be remembered by family, friends and the public at a celebration of life at Minoru Senior Centre on Aug. 31 (1 p.m.).
“If there was anything to do with people who needed help, she was there for them,” said lifelong friend Olive Bassett.
“People came away from her feeling as if they had learned something. She was so interesting and varied in her thoughts. It was a pleasure to talk to her.”
In 2012, Larsen and Bassett were honoured for their social service work with the Pioneer Award at the Ethel Tibbits Women of Distinction Awards.
Larsen worked professionally as a journalist at the Vancouver Sun and raised three children — Tim, Eric and Karen. She was predeceased by her husband, Bruce.
Larsen is best remembered by friends and family as caring and feisty.
“I just loved her. She became my mentor,” said De Whalen, chair of the Richmond Poverty Response Committee.
“She was feisty and not scared of saying what needed to be said. She took on city hall if there was an issue.”
Bassett also used the term “feisty” to describe Larsen, who was a regular contributor at city council meetings on issues such as food security, farmland protection, affordable housing and mental health advocacy.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie described Larsen as someone with a “lively sense of humour” and “determined to make life better for those facing real difficulties.”
It was mental health advocacy that Larsen was particularly fond of. Bassett said she first met Larsen on the family court committee in 1982.
“She was into helping people who she felt had a sad life. And especially the children,” said Bassett.
“She enjoyed people but she didn’t suffer fools. She knew what she wanted to work at and... I miss her very much,” said Bassett, 96, a former long-time Richmondite, who moved to Victoria two years ago.
Whalen said she first met Larsen on the board of the Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee, where Larsen was an independent member appointed by the City of Richmond. That independence is what suited Larsen, said Bassett.
“She was a wonderful person. Very private. And yet she did so much work in the community,” said Bassett.
Whalen said Larsen will leave behind an important legacy for the community.
“Her legacy? Don’t ignore people who are less fortunate than you and don’t assume Richmond is a rich city and there are no people in need. And, we need to change things for people who are less fortunate. She wanted to change things, and not just in the system, but also outside of it.”
One of Larsen’s last acts of community work was to try and organize lunches for homeless and low-income residents in Richmond.
Whalen said Larsen became “incensed” when she recently learned there are outreach food programs that feed up to 700 people weekly in Richmond.
That is why at the memorial, in lieu of flowers, donations of $10 or more will be accepted and applied towards those programs.
