Obituary
It is with great sadness that the family of Caroline Francess Mills announce her sudden and unexpected passing on Sunday, January 23rd, 2022 at the age of 83 years. Caroline will be lovingly remembered by her children: Rae-Lynne, Kelly (Doug), Colin (Leila), Darren (Joanna) and Gavin (Julie). She was a devoted grandmother and will be remembered with love by her grandchildren, Jack Mills, Ian Mills and Alison Harrod. Her sisters and brothers: Jane, Maggie, Joe, Catherine, Stephen, and Roy will all miss her friendship and love. Caroline was pre-deceased by her husband Raymond Mills (83yrs), her son Marshall Mills (5yrs), her parents Joesph Cerny and Mary Magdelina Cerny (née Klukus) and her sister Julia. Caroline will also be fondly remembered by her god-daughter Heather Gottfriedson (née Crowchild), her dozens of nieces and nephews, extended family members, and her many friends.
Caroline (a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend too many) was born in Bilby, Alberta alongside her twin sister Catherine and enjoyed her early years on the Cerny farm. It was a life of family, activity (her city raised kids were always amazed at her ability to ride a horse with speed and ease), but also hard work – which was a trait that Caroline would carry with her for her entire life; she did the work, even when it was not easy. She was an excellent student and was very successful while at school in Onoway, Alberta. Later Caroline would take a variety of correspondence courses to achieve her high school diploma and additional bookkeeping and accounting courses that were critical in her role as a partner in Kare Bus Lines Ltd., which she and her husband Raymond would run for close to two decades.
Caroline was a strong advocate of service and it didn’t matter if it was in Mayerthorpe, Alberta where she and Raymond first lived after they were married, or in Calgary where they decided to move the family to start their business. She was always an active member in the communities where she lived. From coordinating the uniforms for North West Little League Baseball, working bingo fundraisers to support the Brentwood Sportsplex, acting as a team manager countless times for her children’s sports teams, or simply just being a supporter at all of her kids and grandkids many and varied activities, she was always there. This was no small feat while still trying to manage and feed a family of seven and run a business with Raymond.
Caroline was active most of her life, whether it was weekend dances in her early years, curling, downhill and cross-country skiing (often with twin Catherine or sister Jane), or travelling with her family, she embraced it all. Her travels to Hawaii, New York City, Mexico, and the adventure to Australia in her later years were all highlights for her. Her walks in our mountains just west of Calgary brought her great happiness, with Forgetmenot Pond being a particular favourite.
We will miss her quick wit, her mischievous smile, and the way she would laugh so hard that she could barely speak or see from the tears in her eyes. It is easy to have regret sometimes when we lose someone we love, but Caroline would not want that, she would want you to remember her as she was, with an open heart, and thinking of a moment you shared together in happiness.
Pause a second, think of mom, and listen to this beautiful song – Caroline, by Colter Wall: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS8VlbQtPzo
We will have a small celebration for Caroline with our Calgary family and her brothers and sisters who wish to attend at EVAN J. STRONG NORTH, (3625 12 Street NE) on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at 2:00pm. We will livestream the Calgary ceremony and encourage you to join us that way to celebrate Caroline. Later this year we plan to have an outdoor picnic and internment at Edmonton Cemetery to join Mom, Dad and Marshall together in our family plot.
As per Alberta Provincial requirements all guests over the age of 12 attending funeral services at our facility must provide Proof of Vaccination with QR Code (with valid ID matching proof of vaccination for adults 18 or older), or Proof of Negative Covid-19 Test (within the last 72 hours).
Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared with Caroline’s family through www.evanjstrong.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Caroline Francess Mills, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Caroline Francess Mills April 23 1938 January 23 2022 (age 83)..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta