CAROL JOHNSTON
Born: May 30th, 1940
Passed in: NORTH SYDNEY
Passed on: January 4th, 2017
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Carol Johnston, age 76, at Northside General Hospital on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, surrounded by her family, following a brief illness.
Carol was born May 30, 1940, the daughter of the late Harry and Elizabeth (Barrie) MacDonald, the eighteenth of nineteen children. She grew up in Florence and at the age of eighteen met the love of her life, Ronnie. They married and moved to North Sydney where they raised three children. Carol spent many sunny summer days at Florence Beach or Groves Point and in the Annapolis Valley when the kids were young. Winter found Carol a mainstay at the North Sydney Forum when first her boys and then her grandkids were playing hockey.
Above everything Carol was dedicated to her children and grandchildren. She was very knowledgeable of sports and always very vocal in her support. When nephew Bill played, Carol was a great fan of the Northside Vics and the Florence Coal Dusters. She cheered for Wayne and Lyndon at every sport they participated in, even as adults. She was a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Canadiens. Carol’s favourite sport was curling, she watched every game she could on TV and played the game in her thirties. Carol loved Highland dancing; she and Da took Beth to numerous competitions over the years. She inspired Beth to open her own highland dance school. Carol had many talents, from self-taught seamstress to knitter to woodworker. She sewed many highland dancing outfits and at one time sewed our father a corduroy suit. She knit many hats, scarves and mitts and also Mary Maxim sweaters. She was handy with hammer and nails and completed many woodworking projects over the years. She loved spending endless hours playing video games with all her grandchildren. During these sessions the grandkids were able to expand their knowledge of the vernacular and have fun with Nanny. Truly, Carol’s greatest joy in life was having all her kids and grandkids near her so that she was involved in their lives. Carol was a big presence in the lives of her family. She was a strong person, confident in her ability and unfailing in support of her family and friends.
Carol is survived by sons, Wayne (Alyson) and Lyndon (Norma Jean) and daughter, Beth (Jim), all of North Sydney and grandchildren, Mitchell, Ian, Finn, Zachary, Liam and Maya. Survived as well by nephew, Bill (Eileen) MacDonald and children, Amy Lynn and Andrew. Also surviving are brothers, Cecil (Selina), Conrad (Rosella), William (Edna) and Frank (Heather) and sister, Anne Hutchinson and sister-in-law, Donna MacDonald. Carol was predeceased by her husband, Ronnie in 2001. She was also predeceased by brothers, Fred, Harold, Joseph, Barry, David, Edward and Billy and by sisters, Muriel, Helene, Viola, Vivian, Barbara and Mary. There will be no visitation by request. A funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2016 at St. Joseph Church, North Sydney with Rev. Patrick O’Neill officiating. Burial will take place in Lakeside Cemetery at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. Memorial donations may be made to the Northside Harbourview Hospital Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
