Carol Colleen Charnstrom

Carol Colleen Charnstrom died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family members, including her husband Brad, son Aaron and his fiancée, Mary Cole. Carol was 70 years old and passed away from metastatic breast cancer.

Carol was born in Hillsboro, OR. to Harold and Mildred (Broad) Freece. She was the oldest of four siblings and grew up in the Beaverton, OR. area, graduating from Beaverton High School in 1969. She moved to Escondido, CA. for a few years, where she was a caring, loving, and dedicated housemother to troubled boys at the Ahern Boys Ranch. After her first marriage ended, she returned to the Portland area and earned an Associate’s degree In Landscape Design from Portland Community College. Her love of her yard, plants, flowers, animals, birds (especially chickadees), and all activities outdoors was an integral part of who she was for her entire life. She continued part-time in the landscape design and maintenance field for many clients over the next several years.

She and her future husband Brad (whom she had met through her brother Wendell), had their first date on August 8th, 1974; which, coincidentally was Brad’s 20th birthday. Thus began a love affair that lasted for just over 47 years until her passing. They were married in Placerville, CA. on March 8th, 1986. After their son Aaron was born, Carol became a fulltime mother, in addition to helping her own mother and their many older family members as often as needed until the last few years of her life.

Carol loved to travel, whether it was her many day trips up to the Columbia Gorge (one of her favorite places), or to far-flung destinations. She was able to visit Canada, Mexico, England, Ireland, Scotland and the Bahamas. In addition, she travelled to over 15 states throughout the years. For over 50 years, she and her family also enjoyed many different seasons at the family vacation home on Lake Mayfield, WA. She especially looked forward to fall, and her annual trips to Mount Rainier and the surrounding area to see the colors turn in late October. In addition to her family members, Carol was devoted to her many longtime friends, in particular, her “gathering group gals” who met every Wednesday for more than 25 years to talk, knit, help each other through health and family crises, and to study the Bible. She loved and looked forward to the many adventures she was able to take each year with them, to both the Oregon Coast, and to Sunriver, near Bend.

Carol especially enjoyed knitting. She began in earnest in April of 2004, when she was originally diagnosed with cancer, and while enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy. She knitted over 250 prayer shawls, afghans, and blankets over the years, and gave them to anyone who was sick, hurting (emotionally or physically), or needed comfort. She was also known for giving out small ceramic hearts of varying sizes and colors to anyone she crossed paths with as a gift or a thank you for any favors bestowed upon her.

In March of 2016, when she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, she joined a group of fellow stage four cancer fighters every Tuesday morning at The Peace House in Northeast Portland over the next five years to buoy each other’s spirits and to learn the latest information concerning cancer treatments currently available. They all became close friends and were a great source of comfort to each other, especially when any of the group members passed. She was also an active member of a local Al-Anon chapter with a group of friends for many years too.

Carol was a devoted “Mom” and “Auntie” to so many friends and family members. She loved most everyone she met, she held malice towards no one, and was always there to lend an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on anytime someone was in need. She lived her life with kindness, hope, and joy, along with a love for nature and all of its beauty. She fought her cancer ferociously until the very end; never refusing any treatment regimen, no matter how debilitating it may have been. During her entire life, she demonstrated by example to all of us, how to live with humility, love, compassion and consideration for others who crossed her path. When the dark clouds finally came to stay for good, she taught us how to die with class, grace, dignity and appreciation for every day given to her. She will be terribly missed by all who loved her, however, she leaves a treasure trove of warm and wonderful memories to sustain us going forward.

Carol is survived by her husband Brad, Milwaukie, OR., their son Aaron and his fiancée Mary Cole, Portland, OR., her brother, Wendell Freece of Beaverton, OR., her sister, Alice (Tom) Johnson of Pinole, CA., and brother, Warren (Judy) Freece of Toledo, WA. She is also survived by her uncle Kenneth Freece, Seattle, WA., her uncle Loren (Mary) Broad of Bullhead City, AZ.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and so many friends scattered far and wide. The family would also like to thank Dr. David Page and his entire team at the Franz Cancer Clinic at Providence Portland Hospital for their loving, compassionate, and dedicated treatment and care, to both Carol and her family over the last several years; with a special thanks going out to the Providence Hospice team of nurses and caregivers that helped take care of Carol over the last three months while she was at home.

A viewing will be held at Finley’s Sunset Hills Mortuary (6801 SW. Sunset Hwy, Portland, OR. 97225) on Saturday, August 28th from 5pm-8pm. Her celebration of life will take place on Saturday, September 11th from 2pm-6pm. at the same location listed above. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Carol’s name to the Peace House (c/o Pat Schwiebert 2116 NE. 18th, Portland, OR. 97212), Providence Cancer Institute (4805 NE. Glisan St., suite 1G14, Portland, OR. 97213) or a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary & Sunset Hills Memorial Park

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.finleysunsethills.com for the Charnstrom family.