Heather Ann Omel was born March 22, 1974, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Jim and Patricia Omel. She and her siblings grew up in Fairbury, Nebraska where she graduated from Fairbury High School in 1992. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a student in the College of Nursing and graduated at the top of her nursing class with honors, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1997. Following graduation, Heather moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, and began her nursing career at the University of Virginia Medical Center, where she took care of sick children in the pediatric intensive care unit. While in Virginia, she met her future husband, James Abbott. Heather and James were married in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 1, 2000. The couple moved to Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC, where they had their first child, Andrew James Abbott. Andrew was born with life-threatening medical issues and it took all of Heather's nursing ability to give him the care required to shape him into the amazing young man he has become.
In April of 2004, the couple had their second child, Conner Stockton Abbott, who earned the title “Crazy Conner” in his early childhood. Conner’s loving personality has often been compared to Heather’s and he has a talent for helping others the way she did throughout her life. In September of 2006, the couple had their final child, Chloe Ann Marie Abbott. Heather was thrilled to finally have her one and only girl. She wasted no time in decorating Chloe’s entire world in pink. Heather called Chloe her princess, and to Chloe, Heather was the queen. All three children were the light of her life and she will be buried in Salt Lake City, Utah to remain close to them. She stated countless times how she believed that her only calling in life was to be the best mother she could be. The lesson she emphasized to her children, far more than any other, was to always "use your voice". In 2009, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Heather and James later divorced but agreed to keep the well-being of their kids as their number one priority. Heather spent much of her time as an active stay-at-home mom. She expertly managed sports schedules, volunteered in her children’s classrooms, arranged carpools, packed lunches, did laundry, played board games, and everything in between. As her kids aged out of elementary school, she returned to nursing. Heather worked in many positions, but her favorite by far was the neonatal intensive care unit.
Heather died April 24, 2024, in Murray, Utah at the age of 50 due to a medical complication, surrounded by her three kids. She is survived by her three children, two sisters (Rhonda and Jamie), two brothers (Ryan and Tucker), her father, Jim, along with many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Omel, and her self-described "soulmate", Jory Francis.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, the address for which is 3401 S Highland Drive in Millcreek, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, May 10, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 PM at the same address. Interment will occur at the same address.
