It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of Carolyn Clara Ward Hastey on November 11, 2021 at the age of 66 at the Rotary Hospice House in Prince George, British Columbia after a brief fight with lung cancer. Both her daughters cared for her in the weeks before, and were at her side when she gently passed. She was our dearly beloved Mum, Sister, Auntie, and best friend ever to those who knew her.
Carolyn was born on October 9, 1955 in Doaktown, New Brunswick. She is survived by her two loving daughters, Lindsay and Amy (Phillip), her siblings Cathy (Lee), Stanley (Rhonda), her niece Jennifer (Norm), her nephew Trevor, her great-niece Shelby, and her great-nephews Damon, Seth and Trace. Carolyn was predeceased by her parents, Allison Ward and Marjorie Ward, née Rushton, and her former husband, Leonard Hastey.
Carolyn was a long-time public service employee for the Government of British Columbia who retired in 2014. In 2008 she attended a ceremony in Victoria, British Columbia where she was formally presented with an award for 30 years of service.
Carolyn was a wonderful musician who sang and played the guitar beautifully and wrote some original songs. Many knew her from the various gigs she played around Prince George with her mother Marjorie and her friends, and more recently with the Duck Pond Band. She loved to hold jam sessions at her home with her friends and family and was a firm believer in the healing power of music.
Carolyn will always be remembered for her witty sense of humour, warm laughter and gorgeous smile. She always treasured both her family and friends. She always maintained a hopeful and optimistic outlook even in the face of adversity. She was a hard worker who enjoyed gardening, jewelry-making and DIY home improvement. She loved to go on long drives in her Vibe. She also loved animals, especially her cat, Tabor. He was always by her side, particularly during her last days with us.
Carolyn was also a passionate environmentalist. She was a strong supporter of the David Suzuki Foundation and was very conscientious about minimizing her ecological footprint by recycling and educating others on the importance of preserving our planet.
A student award has been set up in Carolyn’s name at the University of Northern British Columbia. This annual award will be given to students who are entering or continuing their studies in an environmental program and who are direct or ancestral survivors of the residential school system in Canada. We are accepting one-time and ongoing donations for this award in lieu of flowers. Donations can be submitted online at unbcgiving.ca or through UNBC Charitable Number 12162 7350 RR0001. Please specify the Carolyn Ward Hastey Bursary when making your donation.
Please join us as we honour and celebrate Carolyn’s life on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the P.G. Elks Community Hall located at 663 Douglas Street in Prince George, British Columbia. We will be livestreaming the event via a private Zoom video chat for anyone who wants to attend virtually.
We request that everyone who wishes to attend in person or virtually please submit an RSVP online at bit.ly/keep-looking-up by Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
For the safety of all our guests and the general public, and in compliance with provincial and regional Public Health Orders, up to 50 people may attend in person and must be fully vaccinated. Up to 100 people may attend virtually. For those who are unable to attend, the Zoom livestream will be recorded and sent for viewing upon request.
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