Carol Ann Canova was born on June 16, 1956 in Cottonwood, Arizona, the daughter of Martha Arleita Cluff and Otis Edward Whelan. She died April 11, 2021 experiencing sweet rest after a fourteen-year battle with chronic health issues.
Carol’s fondest memories from her childhood in Anaheim, California included California beaches and Disneyland. She carried those passions into adulthood and from them realized her favorite color “blue of every shade” and a love of dolphins.
Carol was a gifted singer. While at Camelback High School, she sang in the Arizona All-State Choir. Later, she auditioned for and was accepted into the Up with People musical touring company. With her beautiful voice, she was asked to sing solos, as well as in quartets and choirs. She was heartbroken when her voice was permanently damaged by a tracheotomy.
Carol was always a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a senior in high school, she took photographs and wrote biographical sketches of the missionaries in her area, which were published in a community section of The Arizona Republic. With her orientation toward missionary work, it is not surprising that she met her husband, Terry, while he was on his mission. They were married in October 1975 in the Mesa Temple and made their home in Phoenix, where they raised three sons.
Carol served faithfully in the Church. From the time she was a teenager, she worked in Primary in both ward and stake callings. As a Young Women’s President, she loved her “girls” and formed lifelong friendships.
Carol’s greatest earthly accomplishment was her family. She is survived by her husband Terry and three sons: Adam, Jared (Kirsti), and Peter (Marisa). She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Brenda Whelan, and brother William Whelan. She is survived by her brother John Whelan and her sister Colleen Sturgeon and will be missed by her nine grandchildren: Taylor, Cassie, J.T., Thomas, Ben, Daniel, Emily, Christina, and Caleb.
Funeral services will be Monday, April 19, 2021 at 10 a.m. at the Arcadia Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4225 North 56th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, with visitation at 9 a.m. at the Arcadia Ward. Interment will be on April 19, 2021 at 12 p.m. at Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens, 4310 East Southern Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
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