Carol Jilean Harding Abegg (Jil)

Jil passed away of natural causes December 13, 2024, at the age of 90 years old, in Provo, Utah. Jil was born October 28, 1934 to Frank Edwin and Carol Olive Greenhalgh Harding and was raised in Payson, Utah. She was the oldest of three children, a sister Kay Loya Peterson and brother Richard Frank Harding. After graduating from Payson High in 1952 she received a scholarship to attend BYU where she graduated with a degree in Business Education and a minor in Accounting and Business Management.

In her youth, Jil picked apples in her grandfather's orchard which was located where the Payson Utah Temple now stands. She worked as secretary to the manager of Christensen's Department Stores in Payson, Utah and as secretary of M.R. Rogers Sterling and Silver company in Provo, Utah. After graduating from BYU, she taught high school in Ely, Nevada for a year and then traveled to Washington D.C., where she became the Executive Secretary in the Business Relations Department of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

While at BYU, as a freshman, Jil met her future husband, Myrlon B. Abegg. Five years later they married in the Salt Lake City Temple. They bought a home in Orem, Utah where they raised their eight children. After the passing of her husband, Jil moved to St. George, Utah where she lived for two years and then moved to Springville, Utah to live near her sister, Kay.

Jil is the mother of five daughters and three sons. She is the grandmother of 34 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. In addition to raising their children, she and her husband fostered five additional children. Her biggest accomplishment and greatest joy was being a mother to her eight children. She loved her children fiercely and dedicated her heart and life to them.

Jil was involved in music, dance, and drama groups in both high school and college. She danced with BYU Orchesis for four years under the direction of Shirley Ririe. At the age of twelve, she began studying piano and organ from Professor J.J. Keeler at Brigham Young University. Jil taught piano lessons for 45 years and influenced many young musicians to love music. Throughout her life she continued to be active in music, dance, and drama. She served in her community on the PTA Council. Jil was highly involved in the Suzuki music program with her children as both a parent mentor and an accompanist for her children violinists.

Jil is the author of two books: "Eat Well, Stay Well, Spend Less! – Build Your Immune Power… Double Your Buying Power!" and "How to Save Big Money Grocery and Household Shopping." She was the founder of Saver's Seminar courses and was a lecturer and teacher, teaching: buying and shopping skills, home management, and preparedness classes for women's and church groups. She taught community education for the Provo School District and for UVSC (Utah Valley State College) where she also taught for Turning Point, the Center for Personal and Career Development program. Jil lectured for women's conferences from Roanoke, Virginia to Vacaville, California.

Jil was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in which she held many positions throughout her life. She mastered the organ and was the ward organist in every ward she lived in. She was also an excellent pianist and directed many ward and stake choirs and productions. She served in her stake and ward Relief Society presidencies and was a Relief Society teacher for many years. She also served in the ward Young Women's presidency. Jil and Myrlon served three missions together: one in the Spanish Speaking inner city Detroit, Michigan Mission and two in the Provo, Utah MTC, one as Managers of the International Office and one in the English-Speaking department, providing volunteers for missionary training.

Learning was a lifelong endeavor for Jil. She loved to read, attended institute classes, and studied food science and nutrition. She enjoyed exercise and attending many sport events supporting her grandchildren. Jil loved attending music and dance concerts (especially those where her children and grandchildren were performing). She loved music, particularly classical, both playing and listening. She also enjoyed traveling to Japan and England, but she loved the freedoms and blessings of living in the United States of America. One of her favorite places to visit was Hawaii.

Jil is preceded in death by her parents, Carol and Frank Harding, her sister Kay and brother Richard, her husband Myrlon B. Abegg, and her grandson Jacob Michael Cottle. She is survived by her eight children: Kris (Rick) Wooden, Miriam (John) Bowen, Nathan (Cecilia) Abegg, Mignonne Cherie Abegg, Paul (Emma) Abegg, Rachelle (Tim) Hanshaw, Jennifer (Michael) Cottle, Mike (Linda) Abegg, 34 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and counting.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 20, 2024, at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home in Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held for family and friends from 9:00-10:30 am, and funeral services will begin at 11:00 am. Jil will be buried next to her husband and grandson in the Orem City cemetery.

to view the service for Jil please click this link. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczNDQ3MzAyNDM0MTczMSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==