My beautiful wife Carole slipped softly from my arms into the care of her Lord on Sunday evening. Carole loved to snorkel the reefs off Cozumel, Mexico. A voracious reader, Carole had a weakness for a good “shlocky” murder mystery. She enjoyed kayaking, riding her bike and always celebrated a good score from the second hand clothing shops. A Saturday morning ritual of poached eggs, Heyshire bacon, toast, coffee and juice with the Globe and Mail was our weekly date, not to be missed. Carole faced cancer with hope, grace, determination and dignity for three years, but the disease prevailed and we are heartbroken. Carole’s brothers Martin and Francois will miss their sister very much. A talented freelance journalist, Carole finished her work career with the Fish and Wildlife branch of the Ministry of Environment. Carole suggested not to postpone. Travel to the places you long to see. In relationships, Carole never settled for second-rate friends or second-rate lovers. She aimed to be a first-rate friend and to be present.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Dr. Biberdorf, Dr. McMurtrie, Dr. Anderson and Dr. D. Attwell. Thank you also to the kind nursing staff of floors five and seven at Victoria General hospital. The Palliative Response Team from Victoria Hospice enabled Carole to remain at home where she wanted to be.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Queenswood Centre, 2494 Arbutus Rd., 250-477-3822 on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 from 1:00 – 3:00. There will be lots of chocolate. If you like, please donate to Victoria Hospice, PRT unit.
We all miss you sweetie and save me a spot, O.K.? Love, David.
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Karin Tye
Dear Family of Carole Dobinson,
Last fall, on one of my regular trips to Victoria (my part-time home), I happened to be reading the Times-Colonist and I came across the most eloquent, beautifully written tribute to a woman named Carole. It was clear to me how much she was loved, and that in her time on earth, she had lived a meaningful, authentic life.
I clipped her obituary that morning, and have kept it on my desk. Every so often I come across it in my papers, and stop to read it again. It makes me smile to know there was another couple, who also enjoyed the Saturday Globe and Mail over poached eggs and coffee … that someone like Carol enjoyed kayaking (I recently went kayaking for the first time, and realized I will be kayaking for the rest of my life!) … and that she faced her challenges with hope, grace, determination and dignity. I hope I have the same inner strength when facing my own challenges. I aspire to be fully present in my relationships. There are places I do long to see, and with Carole’s gentle reminder, I will not put them off.
I pulled out Carole’s obituary again this morning, and realized this month was the first anniversary of her death. I thought it might help to know, that even though I didn’t know Carole personally, the story of her life touched me in a small but meaningful way.
Sincerely,
Karin Tye