Obituary of Carol May Northway

July 30, 1940 - Toronto, Ontario
December 27, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Carol May Northway took her last breath on Friday, December 27, 2024, at her home in Calgary, with family around her.

She was predeceased by her parents Hilda Agnes (nee Wilson) and Henry George Northway; brother George Edwin Northway (Helen) of Barrie, ON, brother Melville (Elsie) of Uxbridge, ON, brother Russell Stanley Northway of Miami, FL; niece Wanda McGladdery (Bill) of Abbotsford, BC.

She is survived by her children, Kim Melvin (John Rook), Kelly O’Gorman-Dixon (Charles Dixon), both of Calgary, AB, and Jennifer Moore (Robert) of Edmonton, AB; grandchildren, Ryan J Melvin (London) of Penticton, BC, Cole S. MelvinRook of Calgary, AB, Addison Schulz (Cole) and Olivia Richardson (Ryley), both of Edmonton, AB; nephews, Lawrence Northway (Claire) of Wellington, ON, Sandy Northway of Toronto, ON, and Chris Northway (Debbie) of Cobourg, ON,

Carol grew up living on Eversfield Road in Toronto, ON. She attended DB Hood Public School and Vaughan Collegiate. She often reflected on the fun that she and her friends Joan, Barb, Sylvia, and Nancy shared. There were weekend dances and summers spent at Sauble Beach with lots of extended family in nearby cottages. Sauble remained Carol’s ‘happy place’ throughout life.

Upon leaving high school, Carol took an evening course in shorthand. Already a fast typist, both skills would be used until she retired. Her career spanned very diverse places of employment, with her first job at Riverdale Isolation Hospital where she recorded inoculations done by a team of nurses, travelling between schools in Toronto with them.

Next was Paramount Pictures on Bond St., filling film reel orders for Toronto movie theatres. B.O.A.C., Hewlett Packard, Agriculture Canada, Unemployment Insurance Canada, NovAtel, and realty were other chapters in her work life. She obtained a medical transcription certificate in her fifties and promptly started her own business which she proudly ran until age 75.

Carol volunteered as a White Hatter at Calgary Airport, sang in choirs, joined a euchre club, enjoyed coffee with friends, and produced beautiful oil paintings and pen and ink drawings.

Carol married three times, had three children, lived in three provinces, travelled well, and left beauty in her wake. For a self-described ‘chicken’, Carol bravely tackled many challenges and fiercely loved her family and friends. She was a beautiful woman, determined and gutsy to the end. She was a beautiful woman and a fun mother; determined and gutsy to the end! She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered always.

As per Carol’s wishes, a private service will be held.

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

In living memory of Carol Northway, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes.