Jeannine Marie Therese Caron

Jeannine Marie Therese Caron was born October 3, 1927 and passed away peacefully on September 4, 2022 at Westminster House in Surrey BC. She was an Acadian from New Brunswick, the youngest of 13 children and the last survivor. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 54 years, Jean Marie Caron and two young sons, Claude and Rene. She is survived by her son, Gilles (Elizabeth) Caron.

Mom was a gifted student. After she graduated from grade 12, the school board asked her to teach grade 3 for the next 1.5 years, without having formal training as a teacher. She tutored me (Gilles) and two of my friends in Trigonometry and Calculus in high school. She also taught Dad his high school math, who eventually became a Master Electrician. In 1958 at the age of 31, she went back to school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. She nursed in Ottawa, Europe, Portage la Prairie and Sechelt.

Everything Mom accomplished, she took lessons to learn it the “right way”. She was an athlete ever since I can remember her playing softball with me and my friends. She was a skilled swimmer, earning her Life Saving level, she played tennis until she couldn’t, into her 70s, then played pickleball, earning her Level I certificate. She exercised practically every day of her life, even until several days before passing away.

Besides sports, dancing was her utmost passion. She could tap dance, line dance, hula dance, belly dance, square dance, moon walk, western dance and her favourite was ballroom dancing. She learned all the steps for samba, rumba, fox trot, jive, cha-cha, to name a few.

Later in life, she met someone who would become a very close friend and partner, Michael Bentley, who sadly passed away on June 22, 2022. They loved to travel on the many trips that Michael planned for them. Together they enjoyed the senior set in White Rock at the legion and Kent Street. They went out dancing, and dinner and dancing at New Year’s balls, and Halloween parties with their friends. Mom truly appreciated the care and attention Micheal gave her, and in her own words, “Michael kept me in the lap of luxury.”

We would like to thank all of the kind staff at Westminster House, especially in Complex Care, who cared for her, showed compassion and were so attentive to her needs and requests, until her last breath. Mom had fun with all her good friends in White Rock. Thanks for the good times! A Memorial Service will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Calgary, at a later date