Obituaries : Faira Sens

Faira Sens

PALISADE, CO – Faira Sens passed away quietly at the Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, on June 15, 2012.  She was 63 years old.

Faira was born on August 10, 1948, to Donald and Mildred Burris.  She was raised in Shellsburg and graduated from Washington High School in Vinton in 1966.  She married Harold W. Sens, of East Moline, IL; they later divorced.

She held several occupations, including cashier, pharmacy tech and medical secretary at the Sam’s Club store in Grand Junction, CO.  Faira was a member of the Oak Grove Church in Shellsburg, was in 4-H and worked as a candy striper.  She loved her flower garden, often staying out until dark tending and planting flowers and filling her hummingbird feeders.  Faira also loved bird watching; her dog, Holly; and she especially loved taking care of her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her spouse, David Tofsrud, of Palisade, CO; her mother, Mildred Burris of Cedar Rapids; her sons: Jonathon (Mari) Sens and Quint (Maggie) DeWitte of East Moline, IL; her daughters: Angela (Mason) Otberg of Grand Junction, CO; Jeannine (John) Scenters of Stafford, VA; her brothers:  David (Kathy) Burris of Kansas City, MO; Greg (Marla) Burris of Center Point; Bob (Betty) Burris of Manchester; her sister, Connie McAnally of Ridgecrest, CA; step-brothers: Steve Bammert of Cedar Rapids and David (Patti) Larsen of Anamosa; step-daughters: LeeAnn Tofsrud; Tracy (Ira, Jr.) Carte of Virginia; and Kelly Ward of Mississippi; 15 grandchildren; and aunts and uncles.

Faira was preceded in death by her father, Donald Burris; her stepmother, Faith Burris; and her grandparents, Bernard K. and Eva Burris.

A funeral service will be held at Martin Mortuary in Grand Junction, CO, on Thursday, June 21, 2012.  Local funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 25, 2012, at Oak Grove Christian Church in Shellsburg with Pastor Larry Rodgers officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time Monday. Interment will be in the Garrison Cemetery. Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Faira and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Faira’s name to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090 North 12th Street, Unit B, Grand Junction, CO 81506, phone 970-255-7263, or http://www.hospicewco.com.