Salt Lake City, UT — With deep love and profound gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we announce the passing of Lynne Judith Kanavel Whitesides, affectionately known as “Mama Lynne,” who transitioned into her next great adventure on July 7, 2025.
Lynne was a beacon of compassion, wisdom, and spiritual insight — a woman whose presence lit up rooms, hearts, and paths for countless people. Her journey through this life was one defined by service, healing, and truth. For decades, she walked with others through moments of pain and transformation, always offering guidance rooted in gentle strength and unwavering love. She believed deeply in the sacredness of the human experience and worked tirelessly to help others reconnect with the divine within themselves.
Those who knew Lynne remember her not only for her spiritual leadership but for her warmth, her joy, and her magnetic ability to make people feel truly seen, heard, and safe. Whether she was leading a retreat, sitting in quiet counsel, or simply embracing someone in a much-needed hug, Lynne gave of herself fully and freely. Her influence rippled far beyond the boundaries of Salt Lake City and reached communities across the country.
Throughout her life, Lynne challenged norms and opened doors. As one of the early voices in the progressive spiritual movement within Utah and beyond, she courageously walked the line between tradition and evolution — helping bridge faith, feminism, and authenticity. Her spiritual wisdom was matched only by her courage to speak truth and hold space for the messy, beautiful unfolding of human growth.
Lynne was not just a spiritual teacher — she was a mother, a mentor, a fierce advocate for love, and a believer in joy even in the face of sorrow. Her laughter, her prayers, her stories, and her songs will echo on in the lives of those she touched.
A celebration of Lynne’s life will be held on August 1st at Cliff Lodge in Snowbird, Utah, a place as majestic and full of spirit as she was. All who knew her, who were touched by her, or who simply wish to honor a life lived with intention and grace are warmly welcomed.
In accordance with her final wishes, Lynne’s family is establishing a scholarship fund in her name to support future healers, seekers, and spiritual leaders — a tribute to the lifelong work she began and inspired in others. Contributions are also being accepted to assist in honoring her estate and the many details she hoped would carry her legacy forward.
Lynne leaves behind not only a grieving yet grateful community, but a living legacy: a world forever changed by her love, her leadership, and her luminous soul. She now rests in the arms of the universe she so passionately explored — no longer with us in body, but alive in every life she lifted.
“May we all carry a piece of her light forward.”
Rest well, Mama Lynne — your adventure continues.
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