April 9, 1926 - October 6, 2021
In Loving Memory ~ Born in Prince Rupert on April 9, 1927. During the war years she entertained the servicemen that were stationed there with tap dancing and acrobatics along with other dancers. Employed at the Royal Bank in Burns Lake, BC where she met and married her late husband.
Living several years there before moving back to Prince Rupert in 1955, where her husband was employed at the Pulp Mill and then in 1965 they moved to the Cowichan Valley.
She enjoyed crafts of all kinds and was an ardent cake decorator. She loved baking and decorating birthday cakes for all her grandchildren every year until they were 16 years of age; a grand total of 240 cakes. She also did wedding and anniversary cakes.
She was employed at the Cowichan District Hospital in the Linen Department until her retirement.
In 1968 she visited England with her Mother and in 2003 travelled to Italy with her granddaughter Kim Nunn where she had a chance to visit her brother's grave at Villanova, Northern Italy - where he died of wounds during the Second World War in 1945.
In her later years she took to writing poetry, and was a member of the "International Society of Poets". Several of her poems have been published.
She is predeceased by her husband Emmet Carlson, brother David Edlund and sister Thelma Kelly.
She leaves behind her beloved children Sylvia Balchin (Rick), Dave Carlson (Sue), Brenda Carlson, and Brian Carlson. Fifteen grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
There will be no funeral service by her request. A last poem to her children...
For My Children Sylvia, David, Brenda, Brian
Don't weep for me my children
for this is part of life,
I'll be with you forever
through happiness and strife.
This I think I've dreaded,
although it is my time -
Thanks be to God for letting me
enjoy life in its prime.
I'm going to miss my coffee
we so enjoyed each day,
Discussing all the happenings -
and the comments, we all would say.
The many laughs we always shared
for our loved ones, we so cared.
It seems so very long ago
when I was, oh, so young -
We started with our family
who kept me on the run.
The ups, the downs, the thrills and joys
never were we short on noise.
The years went by too swiftly
as each one left our home,
To find a love, as it should be,
a nest to call their own.
The long await for grandchildren
I always prayed that to be -
The Lord blessed me with a dozen,
then another three.
There never was a greater joy
to fill the heart so full -
I dashed around the house to find,
and knit my bags of wool.
But now the time has travelled far -
more babies bound anew,
A great grandmother myself I find
there's more than just a few.
God richly bless and keep you all -
You've made my life complete,
I've loved you all so very much
and trust I've done my best,
It's time to pass the torch along
and lay myself to rest.
Forever and always
~ Love ~ Mom.