Obituary
Carol Gervin
It is with deep sadness that the family of Carol Linda Gervin announces her passing at the Foyer in Notre Dame de Lourdes on February 28, 2021. Carol was born in Deloraine, Manitoba on May 24, 1945 to Alton and Winifred Gervin of Goodlands, Manitoba.
Not having an easy start to life Carol was born with Cerebral Palsy and was not supposed to be around long but she quickly surpassed each prediction the doctors gave for her. She proved everyone wrong! And what a blessing that turned out to be.
Carol was raised on the home-farm in Goodlands and was taught to walk by her Mother who would strap Carol’s feet onto her own and perform many tasks in the kitchen with young Carol receiving a front row view along with a physical workout that would serve her well into her adult years.
Horseback rides in the house with younger siblings hopping on for the giddy-up and face planting teeter totter in the yard were some of the fun Carol shared with brothers and sisters that were born after her.
At the age of 28 years, she moved to Boissevain with her parents. Because of the medical disabilities Carol suffered, school was not an option. But she learned to help manage for herself from personal care and enjoying television viewing watching any number of soap operas, football games (Go Riders – yeah, no Blue Bombers), comedy shows like Big Bang, Veterinarian and Wildlife shows, Show Jumping along with EVERY curling game broadcast from anywhere on the planet! In fact, in her later years, living in Boissevain Carol could be found downstairs in her favourite chair tuned into World Championships (Women and Men), often at 3, 4 or 5am, when the “Live Broadcast” would just be getting started and younger sister Maise was just getting to sleep. For a gal with little ability to tell the time on a clock, she had an internal clock that told her precisely when the First end would be ready to go!
After her Mom passed in 2010 it was Carol and Maise until Andrew arrived. Then it was trips on planes – first time ever but not the last – to Edmonton, a long drive to Banff to see the mountains and glacier lakes, Calgary three times, and the Stampede. Carol would cheer for the Bucking Broncs – the horses – or the Bulls. Any rider that made 8 seconds obviously “cheated”. Toronto, Niagara Falls, and back to Edmonton on another occasion for the 2013 Brier where Maise and Andrew cheered on Manitoban Jeff Stoughton in the finals. Carol? Well of course she favoured and correctly predicted Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario the winner.
Carol had a love for animals in general, but horses in particular. She especially loved going to Assiniboia Downs racetrack to watch them run. In fact, she had a Race named in her honour to celebrate her 66th birthday in May 2011 where Carol was present in the Winner’s Circle to make a trophy presentation and be greeted in person by the winning female Jockey. How appropriate.
Carol was also a huge lover of Maise’s home cooking and meals out at any restaurant. On occasions when turkey was on the menu Carol would lament why anyone would want to hurt the bird. In fact, she would get downright mad at the thought of the turkey giving of itself for the rest of us to enjoy, until of course the stuffing was coming out and then it was a couple of helpings with her favourite mashed potatoes, all of it covered in gravy. All was forgiven.
Carol was the oldest of five girls, and fourth in line behind three older brothers. She was predeceased by her parents as well by twin brothers who died at birth and older brothers Jim and Pat as well as brother-in-law Howard. She is survived by sisters-in-law, Donna Gervin, Maryann Gervin and Sharon Moore, siblings Scott (Lesley) Gervin, Dave (Jan) Gervin, Winifred (Harold) Sambrook, Cal (Julie) Gervin, Barbara (Glen) LePoudre, Ellen (Tim) Palmer and Marylee Miller (Andrew). Carol was also Aunt to numerous nephews and nieces and would often quiz Maise asking her, “what do you think those kids are doing?”
In late 2019 the exceedingly difficult decision was made to get Carol into The Foyer (Care Home), in Notre Dame de Lourdes because she had no ability to get around even with the help of a walker, Maise, Andrew or any of her brothers and sisters who might be around to visit. We would like to thank Dr. Meyer Nell of Boissevain for his care and assistance as Carol’s personal Doctor for many years. Carol then received wonderful care at The Foyer right up to the time of her passing. Her family is eternally grateful for the exceptional care Carol received from all the staff; the nurses, personal aides, housekeeping, kitchen staff and doctors.
Carol may never have known just how much larger than life she truly was. And she had to be, to battle the odds the way she did even before she was born and every day thereafter to live with dignity and a love of every minute of every day.
We love you Gerts! And we miss you deeply. We are profoundly grateful for having had you in our lives.
A Graveside Service will take place at 11am on Saturday May 22nd, 2021 at Goodlands, Manitoba. Thereafter an online Celebration of her Life will be broadcast online from (www.afh.ca) also on May 22nd, 2021 at 4:00pm.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Carol’s name to The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, 213 Notre Dame Avenue #903, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1N3, or to the Notre-Dame Foyer, Box 190, Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB R0G 1M0.
Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements. Phone 204-248-2201. To view this service and leave condolences, please visit www.afh.ca
Here She Comes
I am standing on the seashore
A ship spreads her sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the ocean.
I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon
and someone at my side says, « She is gone! »
Gone where?
The loss of sight is in me, not in her.
Just at the moment when someone says, « she is gone! »,
there are others watching her coming.
Other voices take up the glad shout, « Here she comes! »
If you would like your name to appear in the guestbook, please email us at office@afh.ca re: Carol Gervin
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol Gervin, please visit our floral store.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Carol Gervin February 28 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Province: Manitoba