Carol Kathleen Polci Hedin

CAROL HEDIN Carol Kathleen Polci Hedin, 59, of Las Vegas, lost her 10-year battle with cancer Sept. 9, 2010, surrounded by family and in the loving arms of her devoted husband, Clyde. She was born Sept. 20, 1950, in Passaic, N.J., to her parents, John Pascuale and Ethel Jean Polci, and was a 33-year resident of Nevada. She attended public schools in Passaic and graduated Glassboro State College with a BA in mathematics degree in 1973. It was during this late 60's early 70's period that Carol started to express her wonderful free spirit and desire for self-reliant independence; an example would be her hitch hiking across the country several times - just to experience what was out there. But Carol was also an extremely intelligent, self-driven woman, determined to achieve any goal she set for herself. In 1975, she received a Master of Education degree in mathematics from Rutgers University, after which she taught high school mathematics. Carol moved to Las Vegas, in 1977, originally to continue teaching, but quickly decided to change careers and enter the gaming industry. She took an entry level job downtown as a roulette dealer, and worked her way up to become a top blackjack dealer at Caesars Palace. In the early 90's, she became the design/production manager for the UNLV Thomas & Mack Center, while also working as a free-lance photographer. She was one of those rare individuals who while great with handling numbers, was also blessed with imagination and a strong creative side. In the mid-90's, she worked as a loan officer for a mortgage consulting firm while obtaining an MBA from UNLV, which she received in 1997 graduating with a 3.95 grade point average. From 1997 to 2003, Carol worked as a senior accountant for Sierra Health Services. In 2001, she became a certified public accountant for both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Nevada. As a CPA, she held a number of positions between 2004 and 2010, serving as controller for Consolidated Mortgage and Investments, Inc. and as staff auditor for the CPA firms Bradshaw Smith and Co. and Conway Stuart & Woodbury. Carol met Clyde M. Hedin in 1985 and they married in 1990. Never able to have children, she channeled her maternal instinct to the intense love for animals. Carol always had an assortment of small dogs, cats, birds and fish as pets. She often brought home and helped back to health any injured bird or small animal that crossed her path. Carol was also responsible for the installation of the "Duck Crossing" warning signs in the Canyon Gate community. Carol is survived by her husband, Clyde; mother, Jean of Las Vegas; brothers, Gary and John of Las Vegas, and Gerry of New Jersey; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, good friends and pets. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, both at Palm Mortuary - Summerlin, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. at Palm Memorial Park - Northwest, 6701 N. Jones Blvd.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Summerlin-Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.