KAYSVILLE, Utah — Outgoing and friendly, active, talented and caring were among the words often used to describe Mary Alice Wahlstrom and her daughter, Carolyn Ann Wahlstrom Beug, at memorial services held for them Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Kaysville Utah East Stake Center.
Mother and daughter perished Sept. 11 on board American Airlines flight 11 when it was taken over by terrorists and was the first of two aircraft to crash into the World Trade Center.
An estimated 700-800 people packed the large stake center. President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, presided and spoke at the service. Sister Mary Ellen Smoot, general Relief Society president, also attended. President Faust read a letter from the First Presidency to Brother Wahlstrom and the family:
"As the nation mourns the tremendous loss so recently experienced, we recognize that this senseless act has affected your lives in a very personal way. It is, therefore, with heartfelt sorrow that we extend to you and your family our sincere condolences. Sister Wahlstrom was a loving wife, mother, grandmother. Her cheerful countenance and joyful smile brought warmth and comfort to many. Her willingness to serve and sacrifice won her the love and respect of all privileged to be in her circle of acquaintance. She leaves a legacy rich in righteousness for her children and her grandchildren. Her example and commitment to the gospel will long be remembered. How wonderful for mother and daughter to share a bond of friendship that tied them together throughout their lives and found them together at the time of their deaths.
"It is further sobering to lose a daughter. Sister Beug leaves behind three beautiful children who will miss the influence that only a mother can give. Our hearts go out to her husband [Norman B. Wahlstrom] and children in this loss. Though there is no way to remove the anguish you may feel, it is with great humility that we express appreciation to our Lord and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, for His willing sacrifice which broke the bands of death and will allow us, if we live worthy, to enjoy these associations once again.
"May you be comforted by the words of the Savior: 'Peace I leave with, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'" (John 14:27.)
President Faust continued, "I don't have an answer why this tragedy happened to this family and so many other families. But I heard President Stephen L Richards (a former member of the First Presidency) say one time, 'There are no untimely deaths in the Lord.'
"Now I am sure none of us can even feel in the smallest way the sadness and loss to the depth of this family, but each of you has been given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of the Holy Ghost guides and strengthens and upholds us."
President Faust testified of the "ultimate promise of peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come."
"The greatest conviction of my soul is that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior, the Redeemer, and that through the sealings which we have in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, life is endless and eternal, and sweet and wonderful, and joyful."
Sister Wahlstrom's children also spoke at the service.
"She was a chocolate-milk-and-cookies kind of mother," said her son, Michael Wahlstrom. "She was someone I could always talk to, and someone I could always laugh with. She had the rare gift of not letting others know when she was unhappy."
She was warm in cheering and praise of her grandchildren. One of her granddaughters who performed in a musical selection was Maryann Wahlstrom, who was en route to a mission when the tragedy occurred.
The portrait of Sister Wahlstrom, who served as an usher at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, was similar to that of her daughter, Carolyn, a resident of Santa Monica, Calif. She was a talented creator and musician who loved life and made friends easily.
The two "made a detour to the other side," said Norman O. Wahlstrom Jr. "It was so tough because it came so suddenly, it was so emotionally difficult because it came so publicly."
Sister Wahlstrom's husband, Norman B. Wahlstrom, expressed appreciation to members and the public "for the outpouring of love" the family had received.