Gillian Joanne Poets

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Gillian Poets (nee Carnell) on December 19, 2023.

Gillian is survived by Ron, her loving husband of 60 years, and her daughter Sandra Clarke, son Darryl (Katherine) Poets and daughter-in-law Tina Mason, her grandchildren Ashley (Chris) Cherry, Sean Mason, Cody Poets, Michael Clarke, Patrick Poets and Dane Julsrud along with the apple of her eye, her greater than life great-granddaughter, Emersyn Cherry. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Sinclair and brother John (Lisa) Carnell, her niece Trina (Wayne) Frederickson and the Poets family in Manitoba.

Gillian was predeceased by her son Dennis in 2022.

Gillian was born in Dawson Creek on October 21, 1942, attended Sprott Shaw business school in Victoria in the early 1960s and married Ron on August 31, 1963. After spending many years trekking around BC with their three children while Ron worked for the Ministry of Highways the family settled in Prince George for many years before a final move to Duncan in 1981.

Gillian was blessed to have extended family - an over 60 year friendship with Chrissie Taylor with many fond memories of all the time that was spent with Chrissie in their younger years and later with Chrissie and her husband Dave and their children as they raised their children and life happened.

Gillian was also fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful group of friends in Duncan that spent many a Friday night together along with many a laugh.

Christmas was Gillian’s favourite time of the year. As a testament to how much she was loved, her granddaughter Ashley and husband Chris opened their home for palliative care for the last few weeks of Gillian’s life. Gillian was surrounded by a world of Christmas decorations and music, Hallmark movies and Emersyn running in and out talking to and playing with her GG (great-grandma). This wonderful gift that Ashley and Chris gave so freely provided such joy to Gillian and such comfort to the rest of the family that will never be forgotten.

Special thanks to Drs Jacobz and Gallagher and the Coleman Clinic, to care aides Cindy and Lori, the staff at Cowichan District Hospital and all of the incredible team from the Palliative Care Unit. There are simply no words to express the family’s appreciation to all of you for first-most the incredible care and compassion shown to Gillian but for being so considerate of the rest of the family as we navigated the journey.

There will be no service as per Gillian’s request.