Karen Anne Lidster

Karen Anne Lidster passed away peacefully at her home on December 10, 2021 leaving behind many loving friends and family, her dog Jenkins, mother Renee Lidster, siblings Sue Lidster, Joe Lidster and Jennifer McKenzie (Matt) nieces/nephews Sandra Allen (Tony, Sophia and Rhys), Jen Temple (Lee and Akaela), Katie McArthur (James, William and Alexandra), Robert Lidster, Luke McKenzie, Reid McKenzie, and her extended family.

She will be overjoyed to be greeted at the rainbow bridge by her fur-friend Jazz, and she will be welcomed to heaven by her dad, Joe Lidster, sister-in-law Debz Lidster, aunts/uncles Marjorie Thorpe, Jack & Sheila McCuish, Ron & Daph Grisdale, cousin Scott McCuish and dear friends who have preceded her.

Karen lived courageously with cancer for eight years, a testament to the fierceness that was enveloped by her fun-loving and compassionate self. She was grateful for the life she lived and felt blessed to have been surrounded by her loving friends and family.

Karen grew up in West Vancouver, graduating from West Vancouver High School and attending Capilano College where she studied Outdoor Recreation and Early Childhood Education. Both programs contributed to her life-long involvement in outdoor sports and her compassion for helping children. But her long-standing career began when she followed her grandfather and father’s footsteps and joined the BC Telephone Company. Her first job was a directory assistance operator. She worked in many departments during her nearly 3 decades at BCTel/TELUS/Stentor including managing Phone Marts and Marketing. Her career continued after leaving TELUS with over 10 years at BC Housing as a Regional Manager. She retired fully from her work life in 2018.

Throughout her life Karen volunteered her time, skills, and energy. She was quick to support friends in need, unable to walk by situations if she could be of help and dedicated to service in her communities. She served on the board of the North Shore Sports Council and was the founding Chairperson of the North Shore KidSport charity.

Karen’s love for adventure and the outdoors began on Hollyburn Mountain where her family had a cabin. She learned to downhill ski at the rope tow and had many wonderful memories of her time playing there with her siblings and friends from other cabins. First Aid and Safety were significant hobbies in Karen’s early life. She was a member and leader of First Aid Teams during her years at BC Tel, winning many competitions. Karen was also an avid sports person from a young age. A runner and fitness enthusiast, she continued her love of the mountains skiing at Whistler and hiking, enjoyed golf, and curling and spent lots of time at dog parks. She travelled frequently and met many new friends along the way. In 2010, Karen trekked to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, a feat she was very proud of.

Karen’s friends were part of her family and core to her enjoyment of life. She had many long-lasting friendships including her high school bestie, Denise Maddeaux (Steve, Leona & family), numerous work colleagues who became dear friends, and many more enduring and endearing friendships she made throughout her life. If you called Karen your friend, she felt blessed to have you in her life.

A heartfelt thank you to all who supported Karen including her oncology team at BC Cancer: Drs. Kollmannsberger, Weir, Dea, their Fellows and staff, Dr. Robert McKenzie, Dr. Marck Hudon, the North Shore/Coastal Palliative Care teams who helped Karen live well, Marylene Kyriazis from the Paul Sugar Foundation, many compassionate Care Workers who do their important and challenging work with patience and kindness, staff at Home Instead, Shylo and Home Care West, niece/nephew Katie McArthur and Robert Lidster, sister Jennifer McKenzie, friends Carol Thomas, Alice Benson, Kath Bennett, Denise Maddeaux, Dena Gartner and Carol Lees. Together with the support of Karen’s extensive friends and family these individuals helped make the tragedy of her shortened life bearable. She passed knowing she lived a full and complete life in the time she had, she was truly grateful, and she was ready to embrace life on the other side.

A virtual celebration of Karen’s life will be held on Friday May 6, 2022 2:00 pm Pacific. You can join at https://www.newnarrative.ca/karenlidster of click on the tab below for livestream.

In lieu of flowers a donation to KidSport North Shore or a charity of your choice in Karen’s honour is welcomed, or think of Karen as you climb a mountain, ski some bumps, or enjoy a beer with a friend. Karen would approve.

“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations.” George Bernard Shaw