Carleen Joan Trudeau

To Carleen Joan Trudeau, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Carleen, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Carleen really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Carleen was born on December 21, 1958 in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Her parents were Donald and Joan Brais. Carleen was raised in North Attelboro, Massachusetts and West Covina, California. Even as a child, Carleen had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Carleen was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Carleen managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Carleen was raised with three siblings. She had one older brother, Steve, one younger sister, Suzy and one younger brother, Billy.

All of Carleen's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Carleen experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in horseback riding and archery. In her spare time she liked to care for her horse, Charlie Horse. Carleen's memorable achievements included training Charlie Horse to jump a fence over 5 feet high.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Carleen was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Carleen simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Carleen, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Carleen's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Carleen graduated from South Hills High School in 1977. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Carleen and Lee met in High School and remained together until her passing.

Carleen reveled in her college years, where her imagination could run free. She was viewed by many of her classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Carleen was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. She was a jovial person who loved to share her passion for fun with others. But for Carleen, life was not a case of all play and no work. Carleen relished the task of putting her imagination to work in class. She was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. She earned her RN at Mount San Antonio College and Cypress College. Her favorite courses were nursing.

Carleen never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Carleen to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Carleen delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Carleen was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Carleen utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Dan Fritchle, Jill Gerleck, Katy and Danny Burleson, Rich and Wendy Clark, Rita Hendrick, Shannon Mc Fall, Mick and Eric Vader. Later in life, she became friends with all fellow employees and nurses at Scripps Hospital, Encinitas, CA. Carleen loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Carleen very easy to approach. On July 21, 1979 Carleen exchanged wedding vows with Lee Trudeau at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Covina, California. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Carleen related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Carleen was blessed with two children, one daughter, Tara and one son, Cory. Carleen had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Carleen's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Carleen had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Carleen was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Carleen liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Carleen was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Carleen's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Carleen as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was registered nurse supervisor. She was employed for 10 years as RN at Scipps Memorial Hospital. She had a total of 35 years of nursing.

Carleen enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Carleen liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were horseback riding, nursing, snow skiing, water sports, the beach and all animals. Carleen was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Carleen felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Carleen loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Carleen relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Carleen never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Carleen rode horses, water and snow skied. In her college years, Carleen continued to stay active by horseback riding and archery. Recreational sports included riding horses with her husband and friends. Carleen was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were Football, San Diego Chargers.

Carleen had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Carleen's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. In high school, Carleen was a member of the Ridge Riders Horse Club. In college, Carleen joined the Archery Club.

A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Carleen often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Carleen was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the salvation and rescue of animals and hospital government certifications.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Carleen was regularly doing things for others. For her, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Carleen was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included Nurse of the Year 2005 from Scripps Hospital, San Diego, California.

Living life in the fast lane suited Carleen just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Lake Powell, Puerto Vallarta, Lake Mead and the Mountains.

Carleen was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Carleen's favorites was Rio, her Thorobred horse. Her family was rounded out by her horse Charlie Horse and her many dogs.

Carleen passed away on December 28, 2010 at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California. She is survived by her husband Lee, her mother Joan, her children Tara and Cory, her brothers Steve and Billy and her sister Suzy. Services were held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Carleen was laid to rest in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, California.

Carleen brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Carleen Joan Trudeau lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.