Carmen Elizabeth Symington

The second of eight children, Carmen was born in Halifax in 1943. She grew up in a loving and caring family, deeply rooted in their religious beliefs. Even at a young age, her parents instilled that God and family were central to a happy and fulfilling life. Carmen took these values to heart and lived her life in the service of God and family.

At the age of 19, Carmen married and over the next eight years, had five children. She was heavily involved in their lives and an active participant in their school and extra-curricular activities. She also volunteered and gave back to the church community. She encouraged her children to establish their relationships with God, while supporting them to forge their own paths.

After raising her children, mostly as a single mother, Carmen went back to school and earned her GED, then graduated with honours from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Master of Education. She moved to China to teach English for approximately year, but poor living conditions forced her to undertake a daring and grueling midnight escape back to the safety of Canada. Upon her return she worked as a case worker for Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, helping members of the community in need.

After retirement, she took great pride in being a loving and actively involved grandmother. She also reaffirmed her dedication to the Catholic church through her continued service to God. She became a devout member of the Carmelites, a religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church. She also completed a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina to pay homage to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Medjugorje.

Carmen is survived by five children – Frank, Kathy, Jamie (Angeline), Tim (Katheryn) and Isabel; brothers Fred (Trish), Jack (Phil) and Ron (Donna), sister-in-law Rose, brother-in-law Wally; six grandchildren – Jessica, Stephen, Gray, Justis, Braxten and Kasey; and two great-grandchildren – Brianna and Axl. She was pre-deceased by her parents Ted and Isabel Dehmel, sisters Mary, Karen and Evie, brother Ted and son-in-law Brian Eisan.

Our mother will be sorely missed by her children, grandchildren and the rest of her family, but we take comfort knowing she is at home with God. We love you Mom, rest in peace.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 3 from 6-8pm at Snow’s Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax.

Funeral service will be held at St Rose of Lima in Fall River on April 4 at 2pm, with Father Gerald David officiating. Burial will be at St Bernard’s Cemetery in Enfield.

In lieu of flowers, Carmen wished for donations to be made to St Rose of Lima church.