Carol Marguerite (Rempel) Giesbrecht
1945-2022
Following a brief and valiant battle with brain cancer, it is with great sadness we announce that Carol passed away peacefully at Freeport Palliative Care Centre on September 14, 2022.
Carol was a remarkable person whose commitment to everyone and everything she loved and cared about was unwavering. She was an outgoing, talented, and incredibly smart woman who valued her family, friendships, music, and faith above all else. In addition to being a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother, she was an exceptional teacher and a gifted church musician. Carol had numerous interests and excelled at most things she did. She was a crackerjack at games like Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit that challenged her incredibly keen memory. She loved reading, cooking, watching baseball and curling, but she had a special passion for quilting. Many have been blessed with treasured gifts of her handiwork. Along with Norm, Carol travelled extensively throughout her life, and she loved researching the culture and history of the numerous countries she visited.
Carol is lovingly remembered by her husband and best friend of almost 56 years, Norman, as well as their son, Christopher (Francine McKnight). She was predeceased by her daughter, Merri-Carol, in 2015. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Victoria (Cody Dewar), Christian, and Sebastian Giesbrecht, as well as Sydney Laurie (Peter Greaves). She is survived and mourned by her brother, Paul Rempel (Lori), her sister, Betsy Petker (Ron), her brother-in-law, Harvey Giesbrecht (Ellen), and her honourary sister, Carol Barber (Bob). “Auntie Carol” will be missed by her nieces, nephews and their families: Caryn, Teesha, and Dan Petker, Hayley Rempel, Jane and Kenneth Giesbrecht, Anne Fowler, Ruth Barber-Dueck, and Keith Barber.
Carol grew up in Kitchener, as the eldest daughter of Cornelius and Marguerite Rempel, in a home filled with love, laughter, music, great food, and numerous extended family or friends from around the world who came to visit or stay for a while. She projected that same welcoming hospitality and acceptance throughout her life. After graduating from Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Carol went to Winnipeg to gain her undergraduate degree at MBBC, now Mennonite University. It was in the first few days there that she met the handsome and talented Norman Giesbrecht, beginning their beautiful relationship lasting more than 5 decades. In 1966, Carol became part of the inaugural season of CBC television’s “Hymn Sing”, which was televised for 30 years on Sunday evenings. She also became a scriptwriter for the show, demonstrating her knowledge and expertise of church music and hymnology. During her time at CBC, her and Norman welcomed their daughter, Merri-Carol, and a year later their son, Christopher.
Carol’s time at CBC was the catalyst for her many future musical and educational achievements. She began teaching elementary school in Winnipeg, while continuing to be the musical director at Broadway First Baptist Church. She was asked to be the editor for the new Baptist Hymnal, which was published in 1973 following 3 years of dedicated work and commitment. In 1984, Carol and Norm moved back to Ontario where she continued her elementary teaching career in several schools within the Waterloo Region. Along with Norm, they became the musical directors at Highland Baptist Church for 33 years, where they established deep and abiding friendships. Carol was involved in all aspects of church life, providing leadership and vision to many aspects of worship and service. She served 2 terms as president of the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians, an annual conference and gathering held in Greenlake, Wisconsin with some of the most accomplished church musicians in North America. She also greatly contributed to a new hymnal publication called “Celebrating Grace” for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in the US.
From 1986-2006, Carol was the founding conductor and musical director of the Grand Philharmonic Children’s Choir, using her expertise in child development and her commitment to creating a nurturing environment in which children at varying ages could develop musical skills and a love for choral music. Carol will be affectionately remembered as “Mrs. G” to untold numbers of children in various schools in the Waterloo Region and also in the Philharmonic Children’s Choir.
She led an impactful and beautiful life. A life lived with joy, courage, generosity, kindness, humour, intellect and above all else, love.
Donations can be made in Carol’s honour to the Mennonite Central Committee or Grand River Hospital Foundation – Cancer Care.
Visitation will be held at Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St. Kitchener (519-749-8467) on Friday, October 14th and Saturday, October 15th from 5pm-8pm.
A memorial service will be held at Highland Baptist Church, 135 Highland Road E. Kitchener on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 1pm with a reception to follow in the Church hall. For those unable to attend, you are welcome to join via livestream at www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming to view her service.
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Carol’s memorial.
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Wednesday September 14th 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Carol Marguerite Giesbrecht Wednesday September 14th 2022..
Décès pour la Ville:Kitchener, Province: Ontario