May 17th, 2022

Carol Lorraine Cunningham has danced her last dance, sung her last song, golfed her last round, and curled her last stone. Carol passed away at age 83 late evening May 17, 2022, with extended family and caregivers at her side, coping as best they could.

Born and raised in Kamloops, Carol was a beacon of happiness, good humour, laughter, and smiles. In keeping with her outgoing personality, Carol had many life-long friends; you know who you are.  She spoke of you often and loved you dearly. Everywhere she went, everyone became her friend. She was voted Kamloops Miss Valentine in1957. Her grandchildren and caregivers called her “Cee Cee”.

Leaving Kamloops in her early twenties, Carol moved to Dawson Creek where she lived, worked, and raised sons Marty and Cory, and daughter, Natalie. She returned to Kamloops where she worked at Cariboo College. There she met and married Wayne Cunningham. To pursue new challenges, they moved to Regina where Wayne worked with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Carol worked on her golfing and curling skills. Returning to BC, they settled in Cranbrook, he at East Kootenay Community College, now College of the Rockies, she at the local golf courses and curling rinks, all the time making new friends. On Wayne’s retirement from EKCC they returned to Kamloops, to families and former friends and familiar links and rinks.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, J.W. “Bill” and Hazel Haines her second son, Cory, several aunts and uncles, and niece, baby Julie Hansen. Carol’s brother in law, Ted Hansen, recently succumbed to Alzheimer’s, as she did.

Carol is survived by husband, Wayne, son, Marty Gaylie (Julie Dionne), and his sons, Nathaniel (Paige Badminton) and Joshua; her daughter, Natalie Peters (Rod) and their daughters, Nikkita Johansson( Brian) and Netanya (Evan Haulk); her granddaughter Jami Pilkington (Grant) and their boys, Hayden and Brandon and Jami’s daughter, Hailey, and Hailey’s daughter, Iola, the great great granddaughter Carol never got to hold. Also mourning her loss are Wayne’s family by a previous marriage; Valerie Hoiland and her son, Tony; Elizabeth Cunningham (Larry Johnson) and her son Isaac Cunningham; and Richard Cunningham (Joy) and their daughters Zanne and Sarah. Carol’s sister Nadeane Hansen, her four boys Robb (Betty-Sue), Mark (Margaret), Dean (Jacquie), Matthew (Juliet) and their families are in mourning along with aunts Leona and Yolly Wilcox and Mryna Hasbon (Peter) and their families.

Wayne’s memories of Carol are stirred by the songs she loved to sing; Marty’s by the photographs he took of her. Natalie remembers her this way:

I miss you always mom.

My heart has been broken.

Since the day you had to go,

You’re in my thoughts daily.

And that’s how it will always be.

For though you’re in heaven now,

You’ll always be with me.

If only I had the chance

To see your face once more

To hear your voice once more

Just as before.

Love you always.

To her very last breath, Carol amazed her family, and caregivers with her tenacity in repelling the ravages of Alzheimer’s Dementia.

Carol’s family thanks Drs. Thom Wroz, Hancke De Kock, Steven Faddegon, Chris Inegbedion, Barbara Prystawa, and Errol Van Der Merwe, the Home Care Workers who visited her daily, the Adult Day Care Workers she visited every Tuesday while she still could and all of the Ridgeview nurses, LPNs, Care Aides, administrators and staff who dealt with her daily. Thanks too to Wayne’s neighbours, Pauline, Karen, Elizabeth and her sister, Eva whose sympathetic concerns for Carol boosted him when he needed it most.  An extra special thanks to Carol’s cousin, Lani Laviolette, who introduced him to his beloved Carol when all three worked at Cariboo College those many years ago.

Carol didn’t wish for any services or memorial events.  We ask you to remember her kindly and often as well. And if you can, please donate to the Alzheimer Society of BC, 828 W. 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Vancouver BC, V5Z 1E2 or Alzheimers BC in memory of Carol Cunningham.

You may send a message of condolence to the family at Alternatives Funeral & Cremation.

• Date : 2022-05-17
• Location : Kamloops