Carole Ellen Shephard

Carole Ellen Shephard (nee Harniman)

December 21, 1937 - March 23, 2025

Carole Ellen Shephard (nee Harniman) was the oldest of three children born to Nellie Jean Harniman (née Ellen) and Robert Lewis Harniman. She was named Carole Ellen to carry on the Ellen family name, and her first name was spelled with an “e” after a famous movie star her mother admired. From an early age, Carole’s warmth, creativity, and sense of responsibility shone through.

As the elder and only sister to Louise—who was five and a half years younger—Carole always watched out for her. She walked Louise to and from school, and offered care and support throughout their childhood. Louise fondly remembered how Carole saved her from running into the street and was always there to take care of her. When Carole was a teenager, the family welcomed a baby brother, Leonard, making her the oldest of three siblings. Carole became like a second mother to Leonard, helping care for him and supporting her mother as the family grew.

Her first home, at 306 Nairn Avenue, was a red brick rental with a cozy front veranda and a backyard that opened onto a laneway. The neighbourhood was filled with the sounds of horse-drawn bread and milk wagons. Alongside her sister and the neighbour’s son, Carole found adventure (and sometimes trouble) hitching rides on the back of these wagons. The Hamiltons, their next-door neighbours, were close family friends, and Tommy Hamilton Sr. even helped Carole’s father build a beautiful doll house for her and Louise—a doll house that still remains in the family today.

Carole’s mother, a strong and devoted woman, ran a tight ship. Carole and Louise helped their mother make paper flowers for extra cash, shaping petals for a company called Ice Box Flowers. Money was tight, and Carole’s mother and father only drank coffee on Sundays as a treat. Carole’s mother always did her own baking and sewing, and Carole became an excellent sewer herself.

Carole’s father, Robert, worked as a plumber and was very strict with his children, setting high expectations and maintaining discipline in the household. He worked with his father, having previously been a bookkeeper. Seeing her father work with his hands encouraged Carole to be creative in the same way, inspiring her lifelong love of making and building things.

Family played a central role in Carole’s life. Her maternal grandparents, Ellen and Leonard, lived at 2 Blandford Street and were a constant presence. Sundays often meant roast beef dinners and homemade apple pie at their house, where Carole and Louise enjoyed the company of their grandparents. The house was always filled with flowers, and the backyard even had chickens.

As Carole grew older, the family moved to Willowdale and settled at 141 Burnett Ave, a home her parents purchased. She adjusted quickly, making lifelong friends like Pauline down the street. The new neighbourhood was perfect for roller skating because their house was on a hill. Carole and Louise also enjoyed playing in the nearby North York Cemetery, where they would sneak grapes from the caretaker’s garden.

Carole faced her own challenges as a child, including a period of illness with polio. To keep her limbs strong, she took tap dancing lessons and was known to dance on the kitchen table with her mother’s permission. Summers were filled with trips to cottages on 3 Mile Lake and Scugog, where the family swam, played, and made memories around the fire.

Both Carole and Louise attended Spring Garden Public School. Carole only attended school until grade ten and then enrolled in a two-year commercial course. Entering adulthood, Carole began working downtown Toronto as a clerk at the Cineplex Theatres, commuting by streetcar and bus.

Carole met her devoted and supportive husband, Edmund Henry Shephard, at a church group in 1956. They were married on October 31, 1959, at St. George’s Church in Willowdale. For their honeymoon, they traveled to Bermuda—Carole’s first flight and her first time outside of Canada. Edmund was a travel agent, which led to many travel adventures during their marriage. Together, they purchased and lived in their first house at 17 Scotchdale Ave. in Scarborough, Ontario, where they made a home and raised their family for over 60 years. They had three wonderful daughters: Katherine Ann Hoag, Heather Lynn Fountain, and Penny Jane Wilson. All three daughters married supportive husbands and gave Carole and Edmund beautiful grandchildren—Alex Hoag, Michael Hoag, Kevin Hoag, Mandy Couper (née Fountain), Daniel Fountain, Hunter Wilson, and Grace Wilson. Carole took great joy in watching her grandchildren grow, and she was thrilled to welcome her great-grandson, Jason Couper, into the family.

Carole was a stay-at-home mom for many years, providing a stable and nurturing environment for her children. When her children were young, Carole was a scout leader for several years, dedicating her time and energy to mentoring and supporting young people in her community. She later went back to school, taking an accounting course before returning to the workforce. Later, she worked outside the home, expanding her horizons and engaging with the community. One of her jobs was at Leaf Confections, which made all kinds of candy, bubble gum, baseball cards, Jolly Ranchers, licorice assorts, and of course Mr. Freeze. How could you not be the best grandma when you had an endless supply of freezies?... Carole and Ed shared many adventures, including building their beloved family cottage in Collingwood. They enjoyed skiing together, with Carole humouring Ed as his skiing buddy because she loved him and wanted to share in his joy. Family members recall how Mom would say that Dad had to get to the cottage "come hell or high water" if there was snow, reflecting his enthusiasm for skiing and spending time together at their beloved retreat. They also enjoyed going out to the theatre together, sharing a love of live performances and special nights out. Mom just loved to go out—it didn’t matter where; you just had to say “out” and she was always ready for an adventure.

As a family, we were fortunate to have Dad as a travel agent, who opened the world to us, allowing us to explore many incredible destinations together. We remember the laughter and excitement of arriving at the airport with ten large duffel bags full of camping equipment—tents, stoves, sleeping bags—or preparing for a winter ski vacation with all the ski equipment, plus the many extra people who would join us on these skiing adventures. These trips created countless funny and memorable moments. Dad's love for nature and skiing was infectious, and Mom took it all in stride, embracing the chaos and joy that came with our family travels. Later, Ed and Carole shared many vacations and adventures with their girls, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, exploring new places, discovering new experiences, and embracing nature together. A favourite memory from these travels is how Mom would come to supper on the cruise ship with a pocket full of quarters, jingling them to show she was ready to go to the casino after supper.

Carole and Ed especially cherished celebrating holidays, family gatherings, milestones, graduations, weddings, and achievements with their grandchildren. These special occasions were filled with laughter, love, and pride, and they treasured every opportunity to celebrate together as a family.

In 2020, Carole and Ed moved away from their marital home to start a whole new beginning in Peterborough, embracing a new chapter in their lives with optimism and grace.

Sadly, Dad passed away in 2022, and Mom faced this new chapter of life with courage and determination. She remained deeply connected to her family and community, drawing on her inner strength and the support of those around her.

Carole’s creativity was a defining aspect of her life. She was an accomplished watercolour artist who attended several workshops and was a proud member of the Art Guild of Scarborough, winning awards and selling several of her paintings. Alongside her good friend Barb Cardwell, Carole enjoyed making greeting cards, china dolls, and custom teddy bears. Together, they attended shows and delighted in sharing their handmade treasures. She was willing to try her hand at any new craft—Carole also expressed her artistry through knitting, needlepoint, and sewing, always finding joy in creating beauty for her family and friends.

Carole valued her social connections, spending time with friends and neighbours, to whom she showed great care and kindness. She also helped Ed with his garden, another of his great passions. They belonged to the Scarborough Horticultural Society and also joined the Peterborough Horticultural Society. They enjoyed helping at the plant sales and going to the monthly lectures. In the kitchen, Carole’s culinary skills were sometimes unpredictable, but her legendary lemon butter tarts, caramel tarts, Yorkshire pudding, and roast beef became cherished family traditions. In later years, making lemon butter with her daughters and grandchildren became a treasured seasonal tradition, and we would often catch Dad licking the spoon.

Carole Ellen Shephard (née Harniman) passed away on March 23, 2025, at the remarkable age of 87. She was predeceased by her devoted and supportive husband, Edmund Henry Shephard. Our father, the love of Mom's life, was an extraordinary man with a memorable laugh that could light up a room. His loving and caring nature complemented Mom's personality, creating a warm family dynamic. Carole was a creative and imaginative person whose artistic talents and innovative spirit brought joy and beauty into the lives of those around her, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew her.

Carole’s legacy lives on through her three daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Her family celebrates her life and the many ways she enriched those around her. They hope that her journey has brought her peace, and that her creative spirit will continue to inspire all who knew her. Those who loved her take comfort in knowing that Carole is now at peace, reunited with her devoted husband, who was always by her side with kindness and devotion. Her family will remember her for the impact she had on their lives and will honour her memory by continuing to support and care for one another.

Poems Treasured by the Family

This first poem was discovered handwritten by Carole’s grandfather, Ellen, in a treasured family photo album. Its heartfelt words beautifully capture the importance of family, friendship, and cherished memories—values that were central throughout Carole’s life and legacy. The poem serves as a loving reminder of the connections that bind generations together.

Here I see familiar faces ranged together side by side,

Occupying friendship’s places, treasured with affection’s pride.

Kith and kin and dead and living, grave and gay and youth and age,

Love selected lie reflected, life-like in each hallowed page.

Some in lands across the ocean, exile-like are doomed to roam,

Others’ fond devotion linger in childhood home.

And my spirit feels a pleasure and a pride naught can excel

In possessing this one treasure of friends and family I love so well.

Author Unknown. Handwritten in Family Photo Album by Grandpa Ellen.

This next poem captures the creative spirit and enduring legacy of our mom. Just as she brought beauty and warmth to our lives through her art, this poem reminds us that her spirit continues to shine through everything she created and everyone she loved.

A Brushstroke in Time

The canvas fades, the colors cease to gleam,

But in the hues that linger, a vibrant dream.

A soul departs, a hand that held a brush,

Yet art remains, a whispered, gentle hush.

The world remembers strokes of vibrant grace,

A smile, a tear, etched on time's face.

Each masterpiece, a window to their soul,

A story told, a journey made whole.

Though silence falls, the echoes still resound,

In every curve, in every vibrant bound.

The artist's touch, a legacy untold,

A story etched in art, brave and bold.

So let us weep, but also let us see,

The artist's spirit, eternally.

In every brushstroke, in every vibrant hue,

The artist lives, forever shining through.

Author Unknown