It’s been hard, after the Celebration of Life for Charlene, to sit down and put thoughts and heart to paper. Our love, respect and admiration for Charlene grew over the years as we spent more time together and got to know her better. The four of us would travel to Mexico and enjoy great weather, food and activities. In recent years, Charlene and I would get together for lunches, without the boys, Ken & Craig, in Calgary and Cochrane. We shared our early years, our struggles growing up, and our joys in life. Those conversations were deep and meaningful and we grew close. I will miss those lunches.
Characteristics and qualities of Charlene’s being that stand out and that we’ll always remember are her forgiveness, commitment, kindness, and perseverance. As well, Charlene had tremendous courage in facing her health challenges, and living her life, almost in defiance of that which might hold others back. She suffered but never complained. Charlene had compassion for others. She was loving and well-loved. Charlene loved nature, trees and her fur-babies through the years.
Charlene was tough as nails and not afraid to speak her mind. I loved that about her. She was a ‘take charge and do something’ kind of gal, which was likely honed through her early involvement in her family’s restaurant as well as in her later business and banking career. During one of our lunches, Charlene shared her experience of once having gone into a store/shop where she had noted an overworked, frustrated young girl trying to do her best, serving an extremely long line of customers, with no help from two fellows who were in the back, sitting on their butts and smoking. Charlene said she marched behind the counter and into the back where she gave those guys what-for and hustled them back out to help. That was Charlene; we had great laughs. We will miss Charlene and will carry her in our hearts. Love Auntie Cathy Ann & Uncle Craig.
