Carolyn grew up in Sugarhouse and Holladay, UT attending Holladay Elementary, Olympus Jr. High and Olympus High School, graduating with honors in 1974. Carolyn was an avid reader and dedicated student, with a drive to learn, research and write. Her passion was studying all kinds of history which led her to major in history, receiving a Bachelor of Arts from BYU in 1977, after only 3 years!
Carolyn desired to serve a mission, always having the gift of faith and testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was called to serve in the Italy Catania Mission (1977-79) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a truly transforming and life-changing experience, learning to love the Italian language, culture and people with all her heart. She blessed the lives of many in the cities of Foggia, Catania, Palermo and Bari.
Carolyn continued her education at BYU, pursuing a Masters of Teaching English as a Second Language. But, it was her Italian connections that led to her meeting the love of her life and eternal companion, Valeriano. After a quick courtship and engagement, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 25 June 1981. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Sharon and Allyson.
As a new family unit, they established their roots first in Milan, Italy and subsequently in Sandy, UT. Carolyn and Valeriano were an indivisible team. They supported each other in every aspect and interest of their lives together. After a critical car accident on 2 January 1986, life changed abruptly and their team act, if not before, was welded firmly together. Valeriano became her constant companion, and literally her arms and legs, and eventually her constant caregiver. It is often said: “Valeriano took care of Carolyn, while Carolyn took care of everything else”.
Carolyn became a family history expert and professional genealogist and helped hundreds of clients and family with their family history work. She individually prepared tens of thousands of names for temple work. She had a firm commitment to her work and research. This led to a desire to get her Master’s in European History from Brigham Young University. She believed that understanding the history of the time that people she found lived in made them come to life. This was her passion! Though limited by her physical disabilities, this was her greatest ability.
If you had the fortunate opportunity to know Carolyn, you were instantly her friend. She would be interested in every aspect of your life. She would want to know your story, as everyone has a “story” worth sharing. She memorized names and made connections all over the world, and remembered with ease birthdates, death dates, and personal tidbits, not because she could (and she really could and would remind you so quite frequently), but because of her keen interest in each person individually.
Her greatest joy was her family, including cousins, second cousins, cousins once or twice removed (everyone was a cousin), but especially her six grandchildren. Extending her love and generosity to them was her greatest accomplishment in life.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Valeriano, her daughters, Sharon (Anthony Moss), and Ally (Stefano Gessati), her granddaughter (Aylee), and her grandsons (Linus, Henry, Thomas, Rudy, and Gideon), her brother, Keith (Cindy Bennett), and sister, Julie (Lon Halterman), and sister-in-law Anna Maria Ugolini Cardoni.
A celebration of Carolyn will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Mortuary at 3401 Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT with a funeral on Friday, June 23, at 2pm, with a viewing and gathering starting at noon. Internment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
