Frances Caron, 92, of Nelson, BC passed away Friday, January 3rd, 2014.
Catherine Frances Howie was born in Montreal, Quebec in on January 24th, 1921.
She was the first generation born in Canada of the late Thomas and Katie Howie, of Rothesay and Milngavie-near-Glasgow, Scotland. Her dear brother Robert Howie predeceased her.
After attending Ste Agathe Academy, she graduated from Pointes-Aux-Trembles High School. Upon graduation she worked for Sun Life Assurance of Canada, in one of the first ever computer data entry departments, and served as a WREN in World War II. A lifelong dream was fulfilled when, at 60 years old, she earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from McGill University.
Frances married the late Dr. Richard E. Caron in September of 1944 and lived for 30 years in Ste. Agathe des Monts, Quebec. Frances worked with her husband managing his medical practice, while being very active in the community and a mother of six. She loved to ski and play golf, and especially loved her musical family, singing in her beautiful soprano voice at every opportunity. Her rendition of “It’s the Biggest Aspidastra in the World” wowed them at local fundraisers. The family spent a life-changing year in Rwanda in 1965, and her love of travel later took her to Europe, the UK and Hawaii.
Her work at Mt Sinai Hospital as a medical social worker began in 1966. A move to Nelson, BC in 1985 brought her closer to family; she was the head of the Social Work Department at Kootenay Lake District Hospital where she worked until she retired. She was an active volunteer, and a enthusiastic participant in the University Women’s Club and the Book Club. Frances attended Unitarian Fellowships wherever possible.
She was a snowbird, spending 15 winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona where she had many friends and hosted a legendary “it’s five o’clock somewhere” party most evenings.
Frances was admired for her positive attitude, and her joie de vivre. She maintained many warm and close lifelong friendships. Hero, mentor, advisor, confidante and friend were some of the many hats she wore as the matriarch of a large and loving family.
Frances is survived by her six children, Richard (Christiane), Tom (Laura), Bob (Brenda), Ellen (Joe), Julie and Andrew (Maureen) as well as 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Frances’s life will be held at the Thompson Funeral Home in Nelson, BC on Saturday, January 11th, 2014 at 2 PM. There will be a graveside service in the summer in Ste. Agathe des Monts, where she wished her ashes to be placed with those of the love her life, her husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nelson Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women, 331 Cooper Street, Suite 502,Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0G5.
The family would like to thank Dr. Margaret McIntyre, Bev Scott, Nelson Home Support and all the wonderful caregivers at Jubilee Manor for their kind and compassionate care.
As Frances would say, “Ta ta the noo.”
Online Condolences may be expressed at
www.thompsonfs.ca
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of
Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.