Edna Mary Carew

March 7, 1934 – September 7, 2023

Edna Mary Carew (nee Hooper) - passed away suddenly at PRHC on September 7th, 2023 in her 90th year. Edna led a life of service to others, first as a Registered Nurse, then as a wife and mother, later as a school trustee and charter member of the Omemee Lioness Club. Edna also served the community as a Foot Care Nurse and in-home Palliative Care Nurse. Edna received the Hellen Keller Achievement Award in 2010 for her outstanding work fundraising with the Omemee Lioness Club for the visually impaired. Later in life, Edna wrote 12 full length semi-fictional novels of the life of a coroner, Lydia Clarke, as well as many collections of short stories.

Edna Hooper was born near Cowan, Manitoba and moved with her mother, Grace, to Toronto in 1940 at the age of six. Edna graduated from St Joseph’s School of Nursing in 1956, then worked one year in Northern Manitoba before returning to work three years at Queensway General Hospital in Toronto. Edna met Howard Carew on a blind date in 1960 and married a year later. Edna continued working as an RN at St Joseph’s Hospital in Peterborough while raising three children and helping on a beef/cash-crop farm near Omemee.

When the children became a little older, Edna entered local politics, being elected as a school trustee in 1975 – serving for 14 years. After municipal politics, Edna became a charter member of the Omemee Lioness Club, serving until her eyesight deteriorated to the point that driving was no longer possible. Edna was a master pie and pastry baker, a skill well served in the Lioness Club, as well as a highly skilled quilter and author.

Edna is predeceased by her husband, Howard, and her mother, Grace Gillies. Greatly bereaved are her children Jeff (Grethel), Jacqueline (Gerald) Murison and Mark (Deborah) Carew. Missed by grandchildren Joe (Judy), Richard (Grishma), Steve, Claire, Ashlee (Cory) and Alberto. Beloved great-grandchildren Olivia, Alice, Hope and JJ.

A visitation will be held at Comstock – Kaye Life Celebration Centre (356 Rubidge Street, Peterborough ON.) from 1 p.m - 3 p.m on Monday September 18th, 2023. A private graveside service at Emily Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind are greatly appreciated by the family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com for the Carew family.