CAROLE DONNA BALCAEN (HUDSON) -

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CAROLE DONNA BALCAEN (HUDSON) 1936 - 2000 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother and nana, on April 26. She leaves behind her ever loving daughters, Maureen (Eddie, Kyle and Kurtis) Paskaruk, Donna (Werner, Jonathan and Maggie) Matysiak, and Heather Balcaen (Tom Pringle and Cede). Mum was born April 1, 1936 to Gordon and Maggie Hudson of Dugald, MB, and was raised in the Dugald/Isbister area. In 1951 Mum started working for M.T.S. in Dugald and transferred to Selkirk in 1952 and worked until her marriage to Ed Balcaen in 1956. She then returned to work in 1967 with the Province of Manitoba as Switchboard Operator at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre and remained there until she retired in 1996 as Switchboard Supervisor. After Dads passing in 1964, Mum devoted her life to raising her three girls. She became very involved in their activities including volunteering her time as President of the Selkirk Figure Skating Club, which led to many years of involvement with the Selkirk Parks and Recreation Board. Mum was very involved in the planning of the Selkirk Recreation Complex. Mum also enjoyed various sports throughout her life including baseball, bowling, and especially curling. Once all her girls were off on their own, Mum sold the "landmark" home that once rested on the corner of Pacific and Main (known to some as the "flophouse") and headed north to the small village of Clandeboye. Mum lived in her cozy home in Clandeboye for 10 years when she sold her home and returned to Selkirk in September, 1999 to live with her youngest daughter and granddaughter. In November, 1999 she was thrilled to finally own her first ever cottage in Winnipeg Beach. Fortunately, we all enjoyed one beautiful, warm spring Sunday afternoon with her there. A day we will cherish forever. Throughout the years Mum was famous for her gardening, preserving, canning, especially her hotdog relish, dills and jams. Mums perogies and cabbage rolls were enjoyed by many. Since her retirement in 1996, Mum planted a garden big enough for all four households. She looked so forward to May long weekend to get the garden planted. Her winters were spent baking delicious cookies for the grandchildrens lunches and fresh bread for family and friends, and of course watching her curling. In the summers while her garden was growing she got early morning starts on the garage sales and hot afternoon pool side sessions at Jeanettes with Ruth, Joan and others, or evening drives to various supper spots around Manitoba. During Mums illness it was overwhelming for us to hear from her friends and acquaintances the stories and to learn of the impact that Mum had on so many of their lives. We will miss her dearly as we know many of you will. Mum was predeceased by Dad, her husband and soul mate, Edward Balcaen; her parents, Gordon and Maggie Hudson; sister Mabel; mother and father-in-law, Annie and Joe Balcaen, and recently her brother Murray Hudson. Mum is also survived by sisters, Shirley (Mel) Davies, Bev Davis; by brothers, Doug (Irene), Russell (Pamela) Hudson; and numerous nieces and nephews; and her ever so precious Auntie Dot. Immediate cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on April 28 at 11:00 a.m. at the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church on Jemima St., Selkirk, MB with Fr. Boguslaw Wardzinski and Fr. Art Seaman officiating the service. Private family. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne and Linda Adams, Wilma Goodbrandson, Joan Wur, Jeanette Cyr and Jack Hardwick. Flowers gratefully declined, in lieu donations may be made in Mums memory to the Selkirk & District Palliative Care Unit. Gilbarts Funeral Home in care of arrangements. To my three daughters: All three of you have gone from being my beautiful little babies to three beautiful women. I have loved you, nurtured you and walked beside you through all of your lives. You have all been so good to me there are too few words to explain the feelings. You have been there for me as my daughters, my friends, my companions, my confidants and I am so proud of each of you.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 27, 2000