The world has lost a beautiful soul. Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend passed away from natural causes on September 26th, 2020 in her cherished avenues home.
Carol Ann was born March 19, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Juanita Ann Olofson and Carroll Joy Stevenson. Married to Haven Eldred Bergeson. She graduated from Granite High School, and attended LDS Business College, BYU, and the U of U. She worked at Utah Oil as a young single woman. Mom was the first person Dad visited when he drove home from his mission. They married June 4, 1956 in the Salt Lake Temple. Dad lovingly called her CA. A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she fulfilled many callings, in particular, finding meaningful ways to serve the sisters she visit taught.
Carol Ann and Haven are the parents of eight, grandparents of 30, and have 29 great grandchildren: Scott (Eoin and his mother Jacqueline Murphy); Carrie & Dean Jolley (Christopher, Megan, Camille, Benjamin, Caroline, Eliza, Emily), Marianne & Kenyon Leavitt (Addie, Shaye, Parley, Sadie, Clancy), Rosalie & David Petersen (Stuart, Elaine, Ivy, Everett), Brenda & Clark Petersen (Joseph, Steven, Samuel, Cara, Catherine, Lydia), Kevin, Jeremy & Marian Majors Bergeson (Trevor, Sydney, Katelyn, Sarah), and Peter & Jaime Jiles Bergeson (Jessica, Hayden, Laura Jane). Carol Ann is a sister to Kent (Celia Chavarria) Stevenson, Jane (Malcolm) Hughes, and Jean (Richard) Simons, sister-in-law to Paul (Marie) Bergeson and Sharon (Brad) Brown, and loved her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her infant twin sister, Coral Ann Stevenson; her parents; her nephew Jack Stevenson; her in-laws Eldred and Ethel Bergeson, her son, Kevin; and her sweetheart, Haven.
Mom loved learning and music. An avid reader, she told her children that she had always wanted a house full of books. She read the newspaper daily, and watched Jeopardy! nightly. She supported our father in his years of schooling, typing his doctoral dissertation on her manual typewriter. The family lived in Pennsylvania from 1961-1963 before returning to Salt Lake. She was curious and intrigued by every person, culture, nationality and heritage. She loved people as they were and learned from them. Relationships were important to her and she had a keen sense of how people were connected and related. She would often say that “People are more important than things.” She sacrificed in untold ways to ensure that all of her children were able to attend and graduate from college.
Mom had many interests. She found joy working in her garden and caring for her houseplants. In her younger married years she skied, cycled, played tennis, traveled to Mexico, Germany, Austria, Hungary (while it was behind the Iron Curtain), and England, and enjoyed family trips to the Wasatch mountains and Lake Powell. As children we had beautiful clothing (including winter coats), doll clothes, quilts and curtains she sewed. In her later years she often gifted her hand-knit dishcloths to friends and family.
A life long tradition, Mom held Sunday dinner at her home. Many happy memories and cousin friendships were made and strengthened, eating and playing together. She always greeted her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with a hug, telling them, “We sure love you.”
Mom frequently walked where she was going, and would stop to visit with those she saw. We are deeply grateful for all who visited her, and the watchful care her neighbors provided, particularly these last few years. She loved and valued each of you.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, October 10 on the lawn of the Federal Heights Ward Building (1300 Fairfax Rd, Salt Lake). Family and friends may call Friday from 5:30-7:00 at the 27th East Ward lawn (185 P Street, Salt Lake, in-car option), and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 outdoors at the Federal Heights Ward.
We ask that all wear a mask including while outdoors and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Those attending the funeral may wish to bring an outdoor chair or blanket to sit on. Limited seating will be available for older or disabled guests.
Funeral services will be streamed [http://tiny.cc/CarolAnnFuneral] via Zoom. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. To honor Mom’s memory, we welcome contributions to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Carol Ann was my first and principal baby sitter. We lived on Lorraine Circle and she lived on the corner of Lorraine Avenue and 11th East. There is an LDS meetinghouse now where the Stevensons lived.
Carol Ann would write her themes while tending me. She composed them in pen and ink, no mistakes, no do-overs, perfect the first time. Amazing.
I was friends with and the same age as the twins: Jean and Jane. My love to both of them.
I live across the street from Carol Ann. I loved checking on her. She was the sweetest person. And I will cherish her hand-knitted dishcloth. I will miss seeing her sitting on her rocking chair on her porch knitting. I wish we would've had more time to get to know her. Much love and prayers to her entire family.
October 5,2020
Dear Haven and Carol Ann's Family,
We were deeply saddened to hear of Carol Ann's passing. It came as a bit of a surprise because the last time we saw her was at Dad's funeral in February. She seemed to be the same cheerful, upbeat Carol Ann we have always known. When the funeral director invited people to come forward and view him for the last time, Carol Ann was first in line. My (Joe) daughter lived next door to her for several years. Often when we would visit we would encounter Carol Ann and have an extended visit that was most enjoyable. Since my daughter moved we have missed those visits.
We will be making a donation in her honor to the Shriner's Hospital. Carol Ann was a true disciple of Christ. We were all blessed to have her in our lives.
Sincerely,
The Philip Bergeson Family
Joseph Bergeson
Kathy Bergeson Rash
Elaine Bergeson Pitcher
Evan Bergeson
Thank you for being my friend and showing me your beautiful home. I will miss you ❣️
One of my most influential and loving parental figures during my younger years. While living in the Avenues, Carol Ann often took me and my older brother, Nathan, to swim at the Deseret Gym with Peter and Jeremy. She was a loving and wise presence in my life, and always so sweet. She always seemed to sense when something wasn’t right with me, asked the right questions, helped me address my concerns, redirected me to focus on more important and interesting things, and always made me feel loved. She was brilliant but not intimidating, always smiling and always had a big hug for me. She was surrounded by books and full of interesting facts and stories. I wanted to know more and read more when I was around her. I felt welcome, special, and important in her home. She always had something yummy to offer me to eat. I cherish my memories of time spent with her. She was truly an angel figure in my life. I’m sure Carol Ann will continue to do amazing things in small, thoughtful, and loving ways as she moves on to her next adventure. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family that our family loves so dearly.