A longtime resident of Burlingame, Lynn Marie Van Etten (Dryden) passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026, at age 71, following a brief and unexpected illness. In her final moments, she was lovingly held by the two people she cherished most: her adored husband of 49 years, Jack, and their beloved daughter, Kristi. Lynn was born in San Francisco to Robert and Jetta Dryden. The family lived there until her younger brother, Tom, was born, then moved to Millbrae.
Raised in her family’s Catholic faith and tradition, Lynn attended Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church Grammar School (’68) and Mercy High School (’72), both in Burlingame. On Friday, Feb. 13, 1970, at a Teen Club dance at St. Catherine’s Church in Burlingame, she met her future husband, Jack Van Etten, then a Serra High School student. He asked her to dance, she accepted, and from that simple moment began a beautiful love story that spanned 56 years, including 49 wonderful years of marriage. After graduating from Mercy, Lynn attended the College of San Mateo (’74), where she majored in dental assisting and became a registered/certified dental assistant. She brought care and kindness to her work in dental offices in San Bruno, Burlingame, and San Mateo, most recently with Drs. Diana and Jeff Powers.
Lynn and her family treasured their summer and winter vacations at North Lake Tahoe, where they skied, boated, swam, fished, and read about Nevada ghost towns before exploring old town sites and uncovering relics from the Wild West days. Those happy days reflected what Lynn loved most: time with family, simple adventures, and memories made together. She loved to cook, plant flowers and was a USF Basketball game fanatic, like Jack and Kristi. She was a wonderful, loving, and supportive wife, mother, and sister whose gentle care was felt in countless ways. Deeply devoted to her family’s safety and well-being, she was also dedicated to helping others. In that same generous spirit, Lynn donated vital organs after passing on to three people in need of lifesaving or life-sustaining transplants.
Those who knew Lynn will remember her generosity, unconditional love and support, and wonderful sense of humor, a gift she inherited from her father. She had a way of making those around her feel cared for, protected, and loved. Lynn will forever remain in our hearts and memories—always loved and missed, never forgotten. Her deep Catholic faith guided her throughout her life, and she believed wholeheartedly that God played a central role in her life and in the lives of her family.
Lynn was preceded in death by her loving parents; her grandparents, Calvin and Mary Dryden; and her aunt Maryanne and uncle Manuel Medina of Broadmoor and Graeagle. She is survived by those who will carry her love forward: her beloved husband, soul mate, and best friend of 56 years, Jack; her adored daughter and only child, Kristi Van Etten of Half Moon Bay; her brother, Thomas Dryden, and his wife, Cynthia, of Fair Oaks; Tommy and Johnny Dryden of Nevada and North Carolina; her close cousin, Robert Medina of San Mateo; and many other distant relatives.
In honor of Lynn’s life and generous heart, donations in her memory may be made to Mercy High School or St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, both in Burlingame.
A visitation, followed by a vigil, will be held at Chapel of the Highlands, 194 Millwood Ave., on Thursday, July 9, from 4 – 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 10, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 1310 Bayswater Ave., Burlingame. Burial will follow at Skylawn Memorial Park, 888 Lifemark Road and Highway 92, in Half Moon Bay.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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