The song chosen for Carol's memorial page was recorded by “West Shore Singers” recorded in 2004. Carol was a Soprano in the choir for over a decade and had toured Manitoba with the choir troupe. The song choice was “It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year" as her favorite time of year was Christmas with family, friends, the numerous seasons' meals across Manitoba, her and Jack's elaborate Christmas decorations and the peace and happiness of Christmas. She planned Christmas decorations, festivities, time with family and friends all year round every year.

 

We lost Carol January 6 of 2022 to cancer, she was diagnosed with liver, stomach and pancreatic cancer in July 2021 and entered palliative care in early December. She had fought off colon cancer for 15 years including 3 surgeries and numerous hospital stays. The hard work of doctors, scientists, the support of family and prayers from thousands, her time with us all was a gift to everyone in her life. She was “pure of heart special” she loved everyone, everywhere, always. Carol and Jack will be our guardian angels always.

 

Carol leaves behind children Mark and Melanie (Brent); grandchildren Keara and David; siblings Marylou (Wes) and Lynn (Bev), sisters-in-law Connie (Rick) and Betty (Bill); as well as nieces, nephews, family and lifelong friends spread across North America.

 

Carol was born in Deloraine Manitoba March 12 1939. She had graduated high school in Killarney Manitoba, then attended the University of Brandon graduating with a teaching degree. Carol and Jack met and were married June 8th 1963. Carol had worked in many banks; Brandon, Winnipeg, Gimli and Winnipeg Beach. Working in small communities meeting many people in her career as a bank teller dealing with the public, Carol and Jack's friends and coworkers felt like members of our own family, like aunts and uncles to Mark and Melanie.

 

Jack passed away from “Central Nervous System non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma” after a year's battle ending in September 2012 (72 years old), they were happily married 49 years.

 

Carol and Jack were kind and loved everywhere they lived by everyone, wherever they moved. They became close with neighbors, people on their streets, in the neighborhoods and communities. They were rarely alone, always on the phone, organizing recreational activities in their community, volunteering, and bringing everyone together. Carol and Jack were avid golfers, volunteers with the United Church, Kiwanis, evergreen basic needs, meals on wheels, choir, fundraising events like fish fries, charitable food wagons, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, picked people up and dropped off for appointments and church services. They were inclusive and left no one behind in any communities they lived in. They attended dozens of weddings, supported family across Canada and the United States.

 

In the past decade Carol was active in; floor curling, dancing, choir, card league, square dancing, weekly lunches with friends, worked on financial committees for the Canadian legion, financial committee in her church and organized with community activities for seniors. She visited and had been visited by family & friends always. She attended her grandchildren's soccer, football, curling, rugby, graduations, birthdays and all time she could.

 

She had a "Fitbit" watch which recorded her walking and physical activity- she averaged 6000 steps per day at the end of weeks and 15,000 steps in single days in her late 70's and into the pandemic. That did not include riding her exercise bike 20-30 minutes twice a day and daily stretching for½ hour twice daily. She was very physically active, she walked in Winnipeg about 3 kilometers no less than 5 days a week in all seasons not including her shopping trips, visiting family and other activities. When she was not exercising, she was baking for church, family and friends. She wrote letters, sent Christmas and birthday cards to dozens of people every year, called people everywhere and had gotten letters and calls from everywhere.

 

The past year she visited for meals with friends, played mini golf, cards, ate in many restaurants, lunches, baked and cooked for friends and family meals. She also participated in her church choir though online zoom meetings and all choir sessions were edited together with the good people in UCIM showcasing all the singers together in the choir for on line services through the pandemic. Beautiful souled, kind, and inclusive people.

 

Carol and Jack, truly beautiful souls and good people who loved us all and we will always love them. They both shared their wishes through life for family and friends to continue with the traditions of inclusion, holiday get togethers, and to celebrate their lives after their passing all together.

 

Due to pandemic and winter, we have not yet set a date for her celebration of life and encourage everyone to remain in contact for a summer event. Cdmjem392212@gmail.com

 

Thank you for being a part of our lives we love you all, always will.

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Sincerely

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Carol, Jack, the McQuade's and extended family