Carolyn Anne Gallagher

Born in Bridgewater in 1941, Carolyn Goulden was the second of three daughters to the late George and Majorie (Smith) Goulden. As a child, Carolyn dreamed of becoming a missionary to Africa. After graduating high school in 1959, she attended Acadia University and studied Theology. But after two years, she dropped out due to financial difficulties. She switched over to Medical Records at the Halifax Infirmary, where she met classmates who became lifelong friends. After graduating from Medical Records, Carolyn worked full time at the Eastern Kings Memorial Hospital and took night courses to finish her degree at Acadia by 1964.

In 1964, she started what would be a long career at the Halifax Infirmary, but in 1967, she entered the Sisters of Charity. She left the order in 1971 and returned to the Infirmary, where she worked in Medical Records, Personnel and finally, Human Resources.

In 1977, she married the love of her life Graham Gallagher, a teacher at Oxford School in Halifax. Daughter Kathleen was born in 1979 and the three settled into a happy life in Armdale. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoyed woodworking, winemaking and watching football with Graham. Her mustard pickles were legendary, as was her love of cats and sloths. Above all, “Auntie C” was always available to lend an ear to people in need and to provide support.

After her retirement, Carolyn kept busy with world travel, volunteer work, genealogy and even lawn bowling. Carolyn and Graham downsized in 2016 and transitioned to apartment life. They enjoyed several precious years living at “The Friesian,” proving it’s never too late to meet great friends.

Shortly after Graham’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2021, Carolyn was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the spine (a recurrence of an earlier bout with breast cancer.) Thanks to the excellent care of the Oncology Team at the Victoria General, she was able to recover. (We are forever grateful to you, Dr. Drucker and Mirela.)

In recent years, Carolyn’s mobility became limited, but she remained a force of nature in the lives of her friends and family. She kept her fierce independence to the very end, choosing Medical Assistance in Dying after a recent terminal diagnosis from heart disease. The family thanks all those who have provided support in recent weeks. We are especially grateful to the Palliative Care Unit at the Victoria General and Dr. Jennifer Szerb.

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Kathleen, sister Marlene, her nieces, nephews and several surrogate sons and daughters. She is predeceased by her husband Graham and younger sister Cynthia (Goulden) Whynot.

For many years, Carolyn sought spiritual truth, but it was in others that she found herself. Looking back on her life, she recently said, “My life was mixed up at one time, but love brought it all together.” The motto she used for her Acadia graduation sums it up:

“I sought my God, but my God I could not see. I sought my soul, but my soul eluded me. I sought my brother, and I found all three.”

Please raise a glass in memory of Carolyn! And if you wish to honour her memory, get out there and do something good today. Feed the birds, donate to a charity, or make that visit to an old friend you’ve been putting off. Carolyn, we miss you already, but you live on forever in our hearts with the lessons you taught us.

Visitation details to be announced the afternoon of Tuesday, December 30. (Please check back here for an update.) In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favourite charity.