OBITUARY: Jeannette Anne Balsam Christensen, 47, dies Sept. 5, 2014

Jeannette Anne Balsam Christensen returned home to her Heavenly Father peacefully in her sleep Sept. 5, 2014, after a long and courageous fight with breast cancer.

Jenny was born March 27, 1967, the youngest of 10 children to Ronald and Betty Balsam of Houston. She attended St. Michael’s Parochial School in Houston and graduated from La Porte High School in 1985. She attended San Jacinto College, where she studied art. In 1988, she was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She later moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where she met her husband, Scott Keith Christensen. They were married for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple on May 21, 1993.

She is survived by husband Scott, daughter Carly and son Adam, all of Glendale, Ariz.; father, Ronald Maurice Balsam of Marble Falls; mother-in-law, Beth Christensen Paskett (Deloy) of Scottsdale, Ariz; six brothers, Charlie Balsam (Beth) of The Woodlands, Richard Balsam (Melissa) of Cedar Park, Michael Balsam (Jane) of Houston, Bill Balsam (Mary) of Charlottesville, Va., Larry Balsam of Houston and James Balsam (Debbie) of Burnet; three sisters, Susan Balsam (Glo Minaya) of Dallas, Lisa Balsam Wallace (David) of New Braunfels and Mary Balsam McDougal (Randy) of Missouri City, Texas; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marc Christensen (Chrissy) of Orlando, Fla., Brad Christensen (Melanie) of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Carrie Beth Hazar (T.J.) of Phoenix; and numerous adoring nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Theresa Plitt, Balsam, and father-in-law, Keith Frank Christensen.

Jenny touched hundreds, if not thousands, of lives through her creativeness in drawing, writing and performance, from recording commercials for Y95 FM Radio in Phoenix to her artwork and graphic designs for websites, T-shirts and more.  Her quick wit could make you laugh until you cried. She was and is a conduit of love and drew people together. She lived a life that reflected Christ’s love, and her testimony poured out to all who interacted with her.

Jenny created the Forever is Better and No Pouting No Doubting campaigns to help ease the stress for her children as she battled her disease. She also served as an executive assistant, artistic director and volunteer at Reigning Grace Ranch, which was one of her passions and influenced the lives of many people.

A memorial service and celebration of life is 11 a.m. Sept. 12. A viewing is just prior to the service at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2939 W. Rose Garden Lane in Phoenix. Interment services will private and held in Meadow, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, you may send a tax-deductible donation to Reigning Grace Ranch, 28150 N. Alma School Pkwy, #103-481, Scottsdale AZ 85262; or donate online at www.azRGR.org in memory of Jenny Balsam Christensen. All proceeds will go to support the “Jenny’s House” project at the ranch.

Arrangements by SereniCare Funeral Home in Glendale, Ariz.