Carolan,
Marie Margaret
Early March 26, 2014, Marie took the Highway to Heaven from her home. (She had said to put that in her obit. Mum always read the “hatched, matched, and dispatched”). Marie was born at home in Regina, SK April 22, 1921, the youngest of five children of Dominic and Marie Stocker, German immigrants from Austro-Hungary. As a child, she sat in the back seat of her brother’s and sister’s car in front of the house, reading the library books that she borrowed every week. In Regina, she worked as a stenographer for Credit Foncier, then for the Canadian Aluminum Company in Montreal. There at the Monkland Tennis Club, (which unbeknownst to her was nicknamed “the Marriage Bureau),” she met James Carolan, a very good tennis player and the life of the party, marrying him in 1951. Marie Jr. and Christopher were born in Montreal. The family moved overseas, living 4 1/2 years in Warsak, West Pakistan, where Leonard was born, then 4 1/2 years in Dacca, East Pakistan (1956-1965), where Jim was Stores Superintendent on two development projects. Marie and Jim were fortunate enough to travel to many interesting countries around the world with three children in tow. Back in Canada she was Jim’s navigator on long road trips; long trips or short, she loved the open road. Jim and Marie ran Sooke Hardware from 1966 until the late ‘70’s, where Marie helped customers, mopped and waxed floors, ordered giftware and housewares and did the bookkeeping. For some time Marie played the organ at St. Rose of Lima Church in Sooke. Upon retirement, they moved to Nanaimo and continued to travel. Marie loved babies and little children who delightedly returned her warm smiles. She always dressed smartly and Jim would compliment her with, “Sharp, pretty sharp!”
Marie was also a very skilled seamstress, knitter, and needle-worker, a hard-working homemaker (she could hand-wring a cotton sheet almost dry), a generous and gracious hostess, and an excellent cook and baker, renowned for her Butterscotch Peach Pie.
Marie was kind and compassionate, tenderhearted, honest and devout, and generous in giving to the poor. Marie dearly loved Jesus and Mary, and her faith in and reliance on God gave her hope. Marie will be lovingly remembered by Marie Jr., Len, Chris and Eileen and children Mark and Hayley, by the last of her generation, sister-in-law Ruth Carolan, by many Carolan nieces and nephews, and by her sister Emilie’s children Bruce and Rena Menzies, Lois and Michael Moore, and Allan Menzies. Predeceased by her parents Dominic and Marie and her siblings Emilie (David), Frank (Marie), Nick (Jean) and Leo. Heartfelt thanks to Lile, Mitsui, Sandy, Karen, and Carla for 1 1/2 years of Home Care support, to Anne Marie Powell for Friday visits, to Lucia Kim for 5 days of long visits and prayer support, and to Helen and Eric Johnson for moving into our home for 5 days upon return from the hospital to share closely in Mum’s journey home to heaven.
If one wishes, donations may be made to Canadian Food for Children, 40 King Georges Road, Toronto, ON M8X 1L3 Phone: 416-231-9109 or to a child-centred charity.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday April 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Catholic Church, 6234 Spartan Road, Nanaimo. Phone: 250-390-2612.