Carlene’s Obituary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Carlene (Gertridge) Polak of Bedford. Carlene was born in Wolfville in 1936 to the late Randolph and Mabel (Coldwell) Gertridge of Gaspereau. She spent her school and university years in Wolfville and from an early age showed a keen interest in travel and exploring new places. She graduated from Acadia in 1955 with a Diploma in Secretarial Sciences and began working in Halifax shortly thereafter. Then on her first week off, she took a trip to Boston by air to visit her father’s cousin. Next, she travelled with a friend by train from Halifax to Los Angeles, where she lived and worked for a year, traveling on weekends and vacations to attractions like the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Mexico. Before returning to Halifax they embarked on a trip to explore the Hawaiian Islands. Her next adventure was boarding a ship in New York heading for London with a few friends. They found an apartment in Earls Court, where there was a club catering to young people from Australia, New Zealand and other British Commonwealth countries. It was there that she met Nic Polak, a kindred spirit from South Africa who also loved to travel. Carlene and Nic spent three months traveling through Europe. Nic then accepted a job with a pharmaceutical company to be trained in Scotland and sent out to his native South Africa. Carlene returned to Canada to attend her sister Eleanor’s wedding, before returning to Edinburgh a few weeks later for her own wedding to Nic in December 1960. They traveled to South Africa in May 1961 and Nic’s first posting was Port Elizabeth where their first child Douglas was born in 1962. Nic was transferred to Johannesburg in 1963 where, in December 1964, they welcomed a little girl, Caron, to the family. For the next 13 years Carlene and Nic raised their family in Johannesburg during which time Nic travelled for business in South Africa and many neighboring countries. During family holidays they traveled extensively in South Africa and neighboring Zimbabwe. In 1972 Nic earned a trip to the head office in New York, and for the first time in 12 years, Carlene was able to return to Canada bringing her husband and children to meet her family who had only known them through photographs and holiday tape recordings sent to Nova Scotia by overseas mail. In 1977 Carlene and her family decided to return to Canada for good, residing first in Wolfville and later in Bedford. After so many years away, Carlene loved being back among extended family and life-long friends. She derived much pleasure in the many gatherings over the years in the Annapolis Valley marking holidays and special occasions. She worked for 6 years as Secretary to the Registrar of Mount Saint Vincent University before leaving to open her own business, The Bedford Art Store. She enjoyed coordinating art classes for children, interacting with local artists and featuring their work in her gallery. Her first grandchild, Laura Polak, was born in 1995, followed by Zoe Bell (1996), Sarah Polak (1998) and Devin Bell (1999). Carlene sold the art store in 1998 and devoted her time to her grandchildren, deriving much pleasure from their various sporting activities, her little dog Mady and her lovely garden. In addition to Nic and her grandchildren, Carlene is survived by her son Douglas (Kathy Gallagher), daughter Caron (Terry) Bell, sister Marilynn (Bill) Carey and niece Stephanie Carey; brother-in-law Budd Miller, and nephews Randy (Martin) Miller, Scott (Carmen) Miller, Stephen (Melanie) Miller; and great-nephews Max and Sam Miller and great-nieces Jessica, Abbey and Jillian Miller. Carlene was pre-deceased by her sister Eleanor Miller and brother-in-law Bill Carey. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation by request. Funeral service will take place Sunday, November 4th at 1:00 pm at the Gaspereau United Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Manthorne officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow the service at the Gaspereau Community Centre. Interment in Gaspereau Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main St., toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Carlene Adele Polak January 19 1936 October 28 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia
