Carol Gibson

The funeral mass for the late Carol Gibson, Kipling, Sask. who passed away on October 21, 2004 at the Kipling Memorial Health Centre after a long and courageous struggle with cancer at the age of 67 years was celebrated on Saturday, October 30th, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Pius R.C. Church, Windthorst, by Rev. Joseph Strohhofer. Interment followed in St. Anne's Cemetery, Kipling, Sask. The prayer service was held Friday evening in St. Anne's R.C. Church, Kipling. The casket bearers were: Donald Dean, Roger Dedecker, Randy Rapitta, Jim Hutchison, Conrad Widdup and Garth Sexsmith.

Carol was born in Port Arthur, Ont. (now Thunder Bay) on September 16, 1937. Carol grew up in the city completing all her education there including Business College. On June 6th, 1964 she was united in marriage with Elden Gibson at Thunder Bay, Ont., taking up residence in Winnipeg, Man. Carol and Elden were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Elisa on August 6, 1967 at St. Boniface Hospital. Following a career as a legal steno to become a homemaker and community volunteer, the family subsequently resided in Steinbach, Man. (1969), Wolseley, Sask (1973), Hodgeville, Sask. (1975), Estevan, Sask. (1977), Saskatoon, Sask. (1981), Yorkton, Sask. (1984) and final residence in Kipling, Sask. (1991). Each community, regardless of length of stay, was home in every aspect. With her positive outlook on life, spontaneous humor, and loving and caring personality she made numerous lifetime friends and acquaintances over the years as a listener, confident and source of encouragement to many. She was a member of the Langbank & District Lions Club, Kipling & District Arts Council, Beta Sigma Phi, Yorkton Sask. and Breast Cancer Action of Saskatchewan. Baptized and raised in the Roman Catholic faith, she was a member of numerous parishes in her lifetime and at time of passing a parishioner of St. Anne's parish in Kipling, Sask.

The following eulogy was given by Carol's husband, Elden:

Today we gather to celebrate the life of a very remarkable woman. Carol was not only a loving wife and mother, but a friend and source of inspiration and encouragement to many many people – irrespective of age, gender or walk of life. Her smile, captivating eyes and exuberance for life was contagious bringing happiness, joy and comfort to all those around her. She also had a passion for her music and a great love of the outdoors.

Friendships were cherished and were an important part of her life from her school chum of 50+ years to a very special family going back 31 years. 31 years in which we have had the pleasure of celebrating many happy times together notwithstanding times of sadness and sorrow.

Her loving and caring personality was a beacon of light to many people as her life crossed many paths in her journeys. Those visits on the deck or telephone calls were her private moments with you. A sense of intuition always told me when it was time to move to the office, go for the mail, or find something to do to assure her privacy. No questions were ever asked however it was evident from your next meeting, be it the smile or your greeting, your friendship and bonding had become stronger. Her caring and love of life was not restricted to adults. Carol had an extraordinary way of communicating with children. Her remarkable ability to listen to a little boy’s description of an imagery farm, or the day to day happenings and dreams of children of all ages, was second nature to her. She always looked forward to Grady-John’s visits as they shared a chocolate cup cake and drink, and in the spring, working together as a team in planting the flower beds. With Carol, work could be an adventure not a chore, and the times they shared together became cherished memories.

Inevitably, her love of children would lead to the question – How many grandchildren do you have? Her quick response was – No immediate family but I have my rent-a-kids. Alex, Caley and Grady-John became her extended family and her love and affection for them never ceased growing. Birthdays and special occasions were never missed as they were always entered in her diary.

Carol was born Sept. 16th, 1937 at Port Arthur, Ontario – a sister to Rose. The family resided at 352 North High Street. Carol completed all her education including Business College in the city. She was predeceased by her mother Jessie in April of 1973 and her father Elias in March of 1983. She is also survived by two Aunts and one Uncle on her Mother’s side as well as her husband Elden, daughter Elisa, sister Rose and numerous nieces and nephews.

Animals always played an important part in her life.

She never talked much of her school years, so we are going to skip ahead a few years.

One of Carol’s childhood friends worked at the Royal Bank as a teller. In May of 1958 this guy from Manitoba reported for work in the Accountant’s Department. Carol was a bookkeeper for a local shoe store and a frequent visitor to the bank. With those captivating eyes, sparkling personality and smile, Carol’s friend was quickly asked to arrange an introduction.

Needless to say the romance blossomed but there were still a number of challenges ahead for bank salaries in those days were pretty meager. Also being a prim and proper young lady, first protocol was to meet her parents. Carol’s dad was Ukrainian and her mother of Polish descent and a super couple. With the Irish having paved the way when Clayton married Rose, I though my chances were pretty good. Well our first surprise was Carol’s mother had lived in the same village I grew up in, in Manitoba and she went to the same school as my mother in the 1920’s. To keep the story short I was accepted as one of the family. However, the learning process wasn’t over yet. Her Dad & Mom traveled by city transit and knew every bus driver in the city. Little did I know when we parked on a bus route the guys must have had a separate logbook for her Mother would get a full report the next day.

Bankers were also noted in those days for their wild parties. One evening we had a farewell for a staff member, which extended into the early hours of the next morning. Elden and Carol were volunteered to bring back the partial bottles. Unfortunately my driving record for making angle corners was very poor and consistent. Having hung the car up on a culvert, we walked to a nearby farm for assistance. Being 1:30 A.M. we could hear him telling his wife – Don’t turn on the light or make a sound and they will go away. By this time we knew we needed a tow truck but the law at that time was no service truck could respond without clearance from the OPP. So first order of business was to fling all the bottles into the nearby slough. Car pooling with the clean up crew, we took Carol home. By 4:00 A.M. we located a tow service, the OPP weren’t interested in going out at that time of the morning, and mission was accomplished. So what’s the punch line? Well it’s that intuition thing again. Do I call her mother for keeping her daughter out to 2:00 A.M. or not? My better judgment said yes little realizing the grapevine was not going to let this one die. My ears were ringing for a week for Carol was 22 at the time.

A year quickly passed and September of 1959 we were engaged prior to my being transferred to Port Hope, Ont. – 1,425 Kilometers away. Still a long way from getting corporate approval to be married as $4,400 Annual Salary was the magic number the bank required. April 1961 I thought it was time for a career change moving back to Port Arthur. Good move but choice of career as a commissioned salesman a bad move. Her faith never waned and it was back to banking October of 1962 and transfer to Winnipeg – 715 Kilometers away. Finally May of 1964 we finally set the date for June 6th. Her Parish Priest was more thrilled than we were and that was going to be his only official duty. He kept his word joining the wedding part on Wednesday and celebrating with them until 2:00 A.M. the following Sunday Morning.

Having no car, Carol & I traveled to Winnipeg by train. Her Mother packed us a lunch in a shoebox and we looked like two immigrants making our way west. Arriving in Winnipeg at midnight in pouring rain and collecting our cardboard boxes, we began our new journey in life.

With her charm and spontaneous zest for life, we quickly made new friends. Prior commitments prevented Joyce and Craig from being here today.

Our first task was to go grocery shopping and the second item in the grocery cart was ice cream. The cashier, upon checking us out, had a chuckle and sent us back to replace the ice cream. Sure sign of newly-weds.

Our stay in Winnipeg was short. Shortly after Elisa’s birth in August 1967, we moved to our first house in Fort Garry. In 1969 we moved to Steinbach. Each move was an adventure and the opportunity to broaden her circle of friends and acquaintances. Carol was a real trooper for her love of pines; water and rocks never waned. Personnel called again and this time it was off to Saskatchewan and in May of 1973 I reported to Wolseley. Carol and Elisa followed in July. Our next door neighbour was the Chief of Police in Steinbach. The night before the moving van arrived, they had a little farewell at the townhouse in which we lived. After retiring for the evening, she could hear the police chief saying throw the empties on Carol’s lawn as she was still planning to tidy up (they didn’t). However, she decided it was pay back time. The next morning she woke early, scouting around for empty bottles. On stopping for a red light on the way to work the chief was somewhat surprised when four beer bottles came rolling out from under the front seat of the cruiser.

It was in Wolseley we first met Frank & Edie and the beginning of our friendship that has grown over the past 31 years and is still valued today. However five more moves were still in the cards and her circle of friends and acquaintances continued to expand. In each community she was a ray of sunshine chartering her own course. Carol never liked the limelight preferring to work in the background contributing in her own quiet way. In Hodgeville, we would visit the Hutterite Colony and the women would take her under their wing like one of the own. What I didn’t know was Carol had volunteered to assist the public health nurse to weigh the newborn babies and she knew every baby on the Colony by their first name. Being a banker’s wife was not always an easy task but her support never wavered. We continued to move on – Estevan, Saskatoon, Yorkton arriving in Kiping in 1991. During these years there were many absences in which we faced some challenging tasks requiring my being away from home. I can personally attest to the therapeutic value of pets in providing loving companionship and we were blessed with the pets entrusted to our care. They were her pride and joy.

Life however was not all work. There were many fun times and Lions was an important part of her life. Carol was proud to be a Lion and proud of her club. She could also hold her own when it came to clean fun. Admiring two wine carafes in Sioux Falls, SD,. the Lions at the supper autographed them and presented them to her prior to leaving the lounge, noting the fact she was the only woman in town with autographed jugs.

In 1996 when Carol was first diagnosed with Cancer, her surgeon remarked Carol was her first patient to push for surgery to go to a convention. After two weeks recovery, we were in Montreal as it was my year to be inducted as District Governor. No way was she going to miss it. Resting in the afternoon, she never missed an evening function and was a hit with everyone she met. A real trooper.

She had a bit of reprieve but 4 years later her cancer came back. Surgery again followed by radiation but she never lost her fighting spirit. Another short reprieve and the news of a further recurrence and now time for chemo August 19th. Her bravery was remarkable and she never lost her enthusiasm for life. Our 40th anniversary June 6th was her first goal – with a small gathering of family and friends – she made it. Come hell or high water she was going to golf at the town’s get together August 20th. She made it playing all nine holes in a best ball foursome. Duane and Joyce were also fun to be with and helped make our evening a fun time as Duane & I came up short on a couple of tee-offs and they were also pretty sharp on their putting. Needless to say we were gently reminded of their prowess. Next goal was her birthday September 16th. She made it however was unable to open her eyes and her loss of speech quickly followed.

Remember that word intuition. She always reminded me of waking up in the night, reaching out to pat my shoulder, and going back to sleep despite the pain. The Nursing Staff at the hospital kindly arranged for an extra bed in her room so I could spend the nights with her. Our communication was now reduced to a sense of touch and the intuition she was not alone. Soon it was time to say our good-byes for it was time for her to go home and be free from pain and suffering and to begin a new journey.

As I indicated at the beginning, Carol was a remarkable woman and a super lady. This is only a brief sketch of her life. I couldn’t begin to capture all the fun things such as the visit to the ranch in Pincher Creek feeding the hogs and first time pail feeding a young calf, nor the time she was picking rocks in Conrad’s pasture and unknowingly was caught from behind by a young heifer. There were many more such times as she lived life to the fullest.

The love for her and her love for us as well as the memories we shared will never be forgotten. We pray God will be merciful in his judgment as she is now in his care and she will be reunited with her Mom and Dad.

And that link that keeps popping up with my family. Well, today is my Mother’s birth date. God does work in many ways, and may we never loose faith and we too continue to be a beacon of light to our loved ones, for she showed us the way. It’s time now to say our final goodbye knowing some day we will be together again.

Carol was predeceased by her mother, Jessie Siwek, April of 1973 and her father Elias Siwek in March of 1983. She is survived by her loving husband, Elden; daughter, Elisa Jackson (Allan), Kisbey, Sask.; sister, Rose Morrissey (Clayton), Red Rock, Ont. as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves to mourn two aunts Kay Kirk (Bill) Winnipeg, Man. and Stephie Brock (Mike) Sun City, Arizona and one uncle, Steve (Elsie) Moralek, Winnipeg, Man.

MY MOM:

While surfing on the web, I came across the mythical creature called the phoenix. The phoenix rises out of the ashes to be reborn; it is also the symbol of strength and beauty. I immediately thought of mom.

After being diagnosed with cancer she decided to rise above the cancer and not let it win. She never complained or bitched no matter how much pain and suffering she was in. Mom was determined to go on living her life to the fullest and enjoy everything life had to offer. Her strength and determination not to let the cancer win was, is, and should be an inspiration to us all. Even though mom is no longer with us physically she will always be in our minds and in our hearts. Mom never lost her battle with cancer, she was resurrected to a life where there is no pain and suffering and reunited with loved ones that have gone on before.

Mom taught us about love, strength, courageousness and beauty inside and out while battling the fight of her life. These things we should all remember and when we come across something in our lives that we think we cannot handle, we should think of the things mom taught us and rise above like she did. - Elisa

Arrangements in care of Tubman Cremation & Funeral Services, Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-800-667-8962. Funeral Director - Michael Rey.