M. Verhelst

Moline, Illinois
Abigail M. Verhelst, 22, of Brighton, Massachusetts, formerly of Soldotna and Anchorage, Alaska, passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, in Kent, Ohio, from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
Services are 11:0 a.m. Saturday in Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline. Burial is in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. There will be a memorial service in Soldotna, Alaska later this month.
Memorials may be made to the Abigail M. Verhelst Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank, to be donated to her high school and university.
Abigail Maurine Verhelst was born July 25, 1984, in Macomb, Illinois, the daughter of Timothy and Mary Beth (Knoll) Verhelst. Her father?s employment took the family from Macomb to Moline, then to Colorado, Washington state, and finally to Alaska.
Abby graduated from Soldotna High School, Soldotna, Alaska in 2002. While in high school, she earned a varsity letter in soccer, served as hockey team manager for 3 years, and was elected vice president of her senior class.
She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion Merchandising from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, in May of 2006. Abigail graduated cum laude and was a member of Mortar Board and Golden Key Honor Society. An active member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, she held numerous offices including: Social Chair, Academic Achievement Chair, and was Financial Vice President her senior year.
Abby recently landed her dream job with TJX Corp. at their corporate headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Her position as Allocation Analyst (a liaison between the buyers and the stores) for Marshalls Division was an exciting challenge. She was on her way to a rewarding career.
Abigail loved family, friends, and shopping. She enjoyed reading and was an enthusiastic traveler. Abby was a loyal and caring friend. Her outgoing personality could light up a room. She was the heart of our close-knit family. Abby made a difference in the lives of all who knew her: a bright light extinguished far too soon.
Survivors include her parents, Timothy and Mary Beth Verhelst, Anchorage, Alaska; brother, Jonathan Verhelst, Anchorage, Alaska; grandmother, Shelby Knoll, El Paso, Illinois; grandfather, Richard Verhelst, Moline, Illinois; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Abigail?s family invites friends to express condolences, share a story about her or light a candle in her memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.