Carol Joyce Churches
Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt and Friend
It is with great sadness in our hearts that we announce Carol Churches of Castlegar, BC became our precious angel on January 28, 2009 at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital at the age of 70, with her family at her side.
She was the first born to Ermie and Medford Coolen on June 17, 1938 at home in Lake Pleasant, Nova Scotia.
Carol married her husband Cliffe Churches on June 27, 1959 in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Before long they began their family and devoted their lives to their 5 beautiful children. The family moved from
Nova Scotia to BC in August of 1976 where they made Castlegar their home. Carol was a stay at home mom until all the children were in school at that time she went to work at the Robson Townsite Store. Carol then worked for 13 years as the cake decorator in the Castlegar and Trail Dairy Queens.
All of her life Carol was devoted to her family and friends. She will be remembered by her beautiful smile, her amazing sense of humor and wittiness. Carol always had a come back or something to say that would have you in stitches. One of her biggest joys in life was being around all her 11 grandchildren who lovingly call her Nanny. Carol loved having her family and friends over for cards, going to garage sales on Saturday mornings and she could never wait till summer to enjoy picnics with her family and friends and she always remembered to bring what everyone else forgot!!.
Over the years Carol belonged to many organizations. She was the first President of the Robson Fire Department, she was a Brownie and Beaver leader when her kids were young. She belonged to the Pythian Sisters, Castlegar Seniors, The Red Hatters as well as an active Member of the Kinnaird Park Community Church where she was greatly loved.
Carol’s will to live was extraordinary, and she lived every day with an extremely positive attitude, enormous grace and dignity, never complaining thru her numerous tests and appointments. Everyone who had contact with her throughout her illness was amazed at her strength and will to live. Throughout Carol’s illness, whenever she was asked how she was doing, her response was always “Well I am just WONDERFUL” hence her nickname by many as “Mrs. Wonderful”
Carol is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Cliffe; daughters Cindy (Lanny) Racich of Kelowna, Christine (Brian) Churches of Port Moody, Sandra (Ed) Roos of Osoyoos, Diana Dorosz of Castlegar and son Cliffe Churches of Zephyrhills, Florida. Carol is also survived by her 11 grandchildren Chelsea, Kristina, and Shauna Racich, Seamus Murphy, Kyle and Aaron Roos, Ryan and Kelsea Dorosz and their father Gary, Ashley, Taylor and Elizabeth Churches; and her 6 month old great-grandson Shane Adrian; her mother Ermie Coolen of Windsor, NS, her brother Gerald(Maggie) Coolen of Springfield, NS, her sisters Judy(Joe) VanDevender of Ficher, IN and Kathy(Scotty)Cameron of Windsor, NS, brother-in-law Gordon(Wylla)Churches and their families; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; Carol is also survived by her special friend Buddy.
Carol was pre-deceased by her father Medford Coolen in 2002, Sister-in-law Margaret Schandl, Mother- in-Law Dorothy Churches and Father-in-law Norris Churches.
GOD SAW YOU GETTING TIRED
God saw you getting tired,
And the cure was not to be,
So, He wrapped you in his loving arms,
And whispered "Come with Me."
You suffered much in silence,
Your spirit did not bend.
You faced your pain with courage,
Until the very end.
You tried so hard to stay with us,
Your fight was all in vain,
God took you to His loving home,
And freed you from all pain.
Carol’s children would like to thank their Dad for taking such loving care of mom while she was not well.
A Memorial Service was held at Kinnaird Park Community Church with Pastor Colin Van De Kuur officiating on Tuesday, February 3, 2009. Al Grywacheski of Personal Alternative Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
As an expression of sympathy, donations in Carol’s memory may be made to the Canadian Liver Foundation,
Suite 1500, 2235 Sheppard Avenue, East, Toronto, ON M2J 5B5, and would be appreciated by the family.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online Memorial Register www.pafs.net
SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SUNSHINE IN OUR LIVES