Carol Ann Nelson

Born on July 11, 1941 in Stouffville Ontario, to Edgar and Nan James, Carol grew up in rural Ontario on her parents’ farm, along with her two younger brothers, Ross and Bob. After graduating from high school, Carol attended Teacher’s College in Toronto for a year before working as a teacher for another year. She then attended the Christian Education Training School, which prepared her for work in Alberta as a Christian Education Director for the United Church of Canada.

It was through her work with the church in Alberta that Carol met her future husband, Rob Nelson. After a year-long, long-distance courtship, Carol moved to Toronto to be with Rob, finding work as an Education Director with a church in Toronto. Rob and Carol were married in 1971 on Carol’s parents’ farm.

In 1973, Rob and Carol moved to Victoria to be closer to Rob’s three children, Keith, Kari, and Kimberly, all of whom would take up residence with Rob and Carol at various points over the years, giving Carol lots of first-hand parenting experience. And let’s not forget all the vocal Siamese cats they also lived with!

Rob and Carol ran their own management and organizational development consulting company, Interact Consultants, for 25 years. They worked for clients in British Columbia, the Caribbean, and India, where they had many adventures. Later, Carol worked as the Coordinator of Volunteers for the Royal BC Museum, and then the Lodge at Broadmead, before retiring in 2006. Not one to be idle, Carol became a volunteer herself at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and later, the Alzheimer’s Society in Victoria.

During what she described as an amazing, wonderful life, Carol enjoyed her work, gardening, knitting, reading, volunteering, walking, and spending time with family and friends. She felt very fortunate to have travelled widely, first through work, and later for pleasure.

Carol was a graceful and loving person, who gave to others her whole life, including supporting Rob through his many surgeries and his final illness, from which he passed in 2016. She was a beloved wife for forty-five years, stepmother for fifty years, and grandmother for eighteen years. She had many close friends, and enriched the lives of all who knew her.

In addition to her many friends, Carol is survived by her brothers, Ross and Bob James; her nephew Ryan James (Janet Howse); niece Laurel James (Christopher Stott); grand-nieces Faye, Greta, Twyla and Bailey; step-children Keith, Kari (Don Lawseth) and Kimberly Nelson; and grandchildren, Sierra and Logan Grigg.

After a long battle with colon cancer, Carol died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and close friends. Her legacy of kindness and giving will live on in us forever.

If you would like to honour Carol with a donation, please consider Dying with Dignity, or a women-centred charity of your choice.

https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/give_today