Mrs. Charlene Bridges Larsen

Mrs. Charlene Bridges Larsen passed away on November 6, 2017 at Simpson General Medical Center in Mendenhall, MS from cancer complications. Visitation will be Thursday, November 9, 2017 from 5-7pm and Friday, November 10, 2017 from 12-1pm at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Funeral services will be at 1pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Harrisville Cemetery, Harrisville, MS. Charlene was born November 16, 1942 in Jackson, MS to Roy and Alma Bridges. She graduated from Harrisville High school in Harrisville and received her Bachelor degree in Music Education with a Major in Piano from Mississippi College, Clinton, MS in 1964. She began her teaching career in Mississippi at Raymond High School. Nils W. Larsen became the love of her life on June 5, 1965, whom she met at Keesler Air Force Base, where he was a 1st Lieutenant. Once they married she followed him around as a bank examiner for the FDIC, teaching in the states of Florida, Virginia and California. Besides teaching K through 12, she often served as the school’s primary music teacher. In addition, she started the International School in Almaty, Kazakhstan, that was the highlight of her teaching career. Moreover, she also taught in the International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh as the music teacher. During the course of her career she operated private piano studios in Florida, Virginia, California and Mississippi. One of her fondest memories were the trips she made to Singapore and especially the 35th wedding anniversary at the famous Raffles Hotel. For there at the poolside, bathed in soft candlelight glow, was an exquisite table perfectly framed by its leafy romantic setting. Needless to say, she was astonished. Other romantic settings were in Jakarta, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand, but none as gorgeous as the Raffles in Singapore. She enjoyed her time in Karachi, Pakistan and her other favorite world class city of Vienna, Austria. Going through London, UK always meant a stop at Harrods for decorating goods. She often visited Stavanger, Norway, the home of her husband’s father’s family. Charlene was a true world class traveler. Finally, it was in Kazakhstan that she was given the title, “The Classic Lady”. Mrs. Larsen is preceded in death by her father, Roy Wilkie Bridges. She is survived by her husband, Nils W. Larsen, her only child (son), Michael N. Larsen; her mother, Alma B. Bridges, her cousin Elizabeth Ann Seaney, her cousin Edmond Berry, her niece Suzanne Mulligan, Aunt Vesta Chesteen, niece, Donna M. Chesteen and nephew, William Chesteen. We would like to thank Kare In Home ladies who took care of her and especially Jessica Spears, April Rollins, Ms. Eddie Rollins and Jennifer Barnett.