Obituary of Carol Ann Devins

October 14, 1937 – Lethbridge, Alberta

July 20, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Carol Ann Devins passed away peacefully in Calgary, AB, on Saturday, July 20, 2024, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was a resilient, fiercely independent, and compassionate person who loved her large family and many lifelong friends. Carol was never idle and was always working on crafts, sewing, rug hooking, decoupage, gardening, driving kids all over the place, and even raised chickens, horses, and many pets over the years. She enjoyed reading, investing in the stock market, hiking, curling, good jokes and good wine, traveling the world, and her beloved Blue Jays.

She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Donald Cameron, her second husband Wayne Devins, her brother Douglas Blenner-Hassett, her sister Marnie Blenner-Hassett, and her grandson Christopher Donnelly.

She leaves behind her children, Karen Donnelly (Tim), Jennifer Doty (Michael), Heather Cameron (Chris), and Grant Cameron (Bobbie); and her stepchildren, Ron Devins, Sherry Pickup (Jon), Shawn Devins, Pam Devins (Joe), and Jill Imai (Yoshitaka). She is survived by twelve grandchildren, Connor, Simon, Ellen, Andrew, Sarah, Liam, Jayda, Karlie, Eri, Meghan, Sunny, and Jae; and ten great-grandchildren, Kingsten, Wyatt, Leon, London, Sonoma, Henderson, Eva, Shiho, Rinka, and Luka.

Carol was born in Lethbridge and was the eldest of three children to Lyle and Harriett Blenner-Hassett. She attended Central Memorial High School in Calgary, AB, and then graduated in Nursing from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. She married Donald Cameron in 1959, and they had four children. They enjoyed the cabin at Lac des Arcs, near Canmore, AB, and hosted family and friends at the houses in Bearspaw and Cochrane, AB. She volunteered with the Junior League and Meals on Wheels. Donald and Carol enjoyed some magnificent global travels related to Don’s profession in the oil industry. Donald passed away in 1980, and Carol married Wayne Devins in 1982. Carol now proudly claimed nine children - four of her own in addition to Wayne’s five children. Wayne’s work in the houseboat industry took them to Sicamous, Westbank, Parksville and the marina in Kitimat, BC. She and Wayne eventually retired to the cabin near Canmore, AB, and enjoyed hiking with the Meanderthals, the Canmore Eagles hockey games, and friends at Ralph Connor United Church. Wayne passed away in 2004.

Her final years were spent in Calgary, AB, where she enjoyed connecting with friends, nursing reunions, fitness classes, photography, and traveling. She traveled and cruised for ten years and saw many parts of the world. She loved and was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She would like us all to remember her with a smile, laughter, and love instead of tears.

Thank you to Dr. Geoghegan and Dr. Ismail for their care, and to all the staff at Staywell Manor Village and HomeInstead who helped Carol and had patience with her in her last, not always easy, years.

A Celebration of Carol’s Life will be held at Scarboro United Church (134 Scarboro Avenue SW, Calgary, AB) on September 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Church Hall.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Devins’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Carol’s family here.

In living memory of Carol Devins, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Calgary Crematorium, 3219 – 4th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 3A6, Telephone: 403-299-0111.

Click Here to Watch Carol's Celebration of Life

Meeting ID: 825 9229 7936