Caroline Johnston

She was a loving mother to her daughter Mackenzie, who will forever miss her; son-in-law Jimmy, and adored grandson Malakai.

Caroline was the youngest of four siblings. She was predeceased by her eldest sister Genevieve, and her parents Doris and Homer. She is dearly missed by her sister Marian (Eric); brother Jamie (Michael); nieces Liah and Erin; dear friends Maeve, Holly, Bruce, Lisa; and many other friends, family, and colleagues.

Caroline was most proud of her daughter Mackenzie, whom she raised by herself in often difficult circumstances. Being a single mother was not always easy, but true to her nature, she did whatever it took; often sacrificing her own needs to make sure Mackenzie was well looked after.

While only getting to be a grandmother (or “Grand-Mère" as she preferred to be called) for three short months, having that time with her only grandchild was the greatest joy and light of her life while she was able to do so; always bringing a smile to her face.

She will be remembered for her love of nature, outdoor adventures (hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing), and Mackenzie’s dog, a boxer named Rosé. She adored travelling and her adventures took her to historical streets, monuments, and ski slopes all over Europe, sandy beaches and temples of Thailand, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Barrier Reef, among other countless places. Caroline also loved collecting art and jewelry from many Canadian artists and even had her own creative side to her as well; she enjoyed quilting, knitting, rug hooking, beading, and even took up water colour painting in her final year of life.

Born and raised in Calgary, she spent her summers at the family cabin on Lake Windermere and her winters skiing in Banff, where she learned to love the outdoors. Hence when it came to choosing a career, becoming a Forest Officer was a natural choice. Caroline had an accomplished career and was the 6th woman to become a Forest Officer in Alberta. That role took her all over Alberta, from Fort Chipewyan, down to Beaver Mines, where she was fighting wildfires, managing fire crews in the bush, and patrolling the Willmore on horseback, to mention a few. She then pursued further careers in Environmental Health and Safety Training, and Regulatory Compliance.

Undertaking a MSc. in Environment and Management later in her career, she was devoted to continued learning, increasing her professional capabilities and improving her skills. Soft spoken and small in stature but mighty and courageous in spirit, she brought a smile to all who knew her. Caroline was a mentor to those she worked with and was deeply dedicated to and accomplished in every career she had. It is with regret that she did not get the chance to enjoy the fruits of her labour through all the dreams and plans she had for retirement which included building a cabin in BC and travelling the world – her first stop, Iceland.

Finally, Caroline was an inspiration to all she encountered for her resilience through every bump in the road and adversity she faced. She proceeded through life with nothing but grace and wisdom which she strived to impart to her daughter.

Following Caroline’s wishes, there will be a Celebration of Life held at a later date. Her ashes will be interred at Queen’s Park Cemetery in Calgary, united with her parents and sister.

Very special thanks to the staff at the Dulcina Hospice for the outstanding care provided to Caroline. As such, in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Dulcina Hospice at https://covenantcare.ca/communities/st-marguerite-manor and choose from the fund section 03 facility: St Marguerite Manor- Dulcina, Calgary.

In addition, Caroline was grateful for the love and support she received from her friends Maeve and Holly, as well as her cousin Tammy.