Renée Wood Larsen, 78, passed away suddenly on May 3, 2026, in Lynchburg. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she carried the spirit, wit and resilience of her hometown with her throughout her life.
A proud alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, where she met her husband, Chris, Renée graduated in 1969 from the UPenn Dental Hygiene program. That education laid the foundation for a career she truly loved.
Following her husband’s graduation, the couple moved to his homeland of Canada, where she was warmly embraced by a new extended family. There, she built a home, raised her daughter and spent some of her happiest years – years filled with laughter, lively gatherings around the table, shared celebrations, countless adventures and lifelong friendships that remained dear to her heart. In 1993, she returned to settle in Virginia on a quiet tree-lined street she affectionately referred to as “Sleepy Hollow”, surrounded the best neighbors, in her charming Cape Cod.
Renée was never afraid of a journey, traveling the world and making the effort to visit friends and loved ones scattered far and wide across the United States.
In her professional life, she was deeply dedicated and exceptionally compassionate. Her patients – both in Virginia and north of the border – adored her, often following her from office to office over the years, a testament to the trust, warmth and care she gave. Though she spent decades enthusiastically peering into people’s mouths – something most of us would politely avoid – she made dental visits feel warm, personal and full of laughter.
Simply put, Renée was a wildly spirited, kind, unforgettable woman, and honestly, we would not have changed a thing about her. She loved fiercely, laughed loudly, spoke her mind without hesitation and made life far more interesting for everyone lucky enough to know her.
Left to remember and celebrate her are her former husband, Chris Larsen of Halifax, Canada; her cherished only-child, Erika, who was a constant source of pride, joy and love – and who she never missed an opportunity to drive a bit crazy; as well as many family members, dear friends, neighbors, work families and patients, all of whom have gone out of their way to share support, kind words, prayers, stories and condolences with Chris and Erika. We are deeply grateful for this outpouring of love, which has brought comfort beyond what words can fully express.
Plans for a celebration of life will be finalized soon – it’s proving a bit tricky, since it turns out someone this great didn’t leave us with a playbook for how to celebrate her properly.
Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.