HARDER, CAROL - Carol Dawn Harder (nee Bird) died on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Twin Oaks Health Centre, Musquodoboit Harbour, NS. She was 89. Born to Harriet (Hattie) and Norman Bird, she was predeceased by five siblings, Frederick (Doris), Marion (James Henderson), Leonard (Barb), Bob (Marion) and Howard (Judy). She is survived by her sister, Betty (Rignanesi), her sisters-in-law Barb Bird, Judy Bird and Helen Harder and life-long friend Grace Sproule (nee Connors). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Carol attended school in Fredericton. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division and earned her RN at the Mack Training School for Nurses in St. Catharines, ON. She was predeceased in 1968 by her husband, Edgar Harder, whom she married in 1950. They had four children, Paula, Sandra (Phil Prophet), Carla (Denise Tufts) and Andrew (Anne Bertrand), two grandchildren Erin (Scott Jenkins) and Nicholas, and one great grandchild, Jack. Carol worked as a Registered Nurse in pediatrics at the General Hospital in St. Catharines and with the Victorian Order of Nurses in Fredericton. She was a life-long member of the United Church (Wilmot United, Memorial United and Vineland United). Carol had a big heart, was strong willed, fiercely independent and generous. She loved to feed her family and friends, made sure her children pursued their interests and talents, lived outdoors in summer, feared nothing and never walked through a mall or a grocery store without being warmly greeted by one of her former patients or their family members. Following her retirement, she played bridge, travelled with her siblings and in-laws, visited her children, gardened, built the best stove fires and attended dozens of her grandchildrens’ concerts and productions. She was thrifty, kept a beautiful house and yard, had a wicked sweet tooth and was never idle. She will be greatly missed.
Memorial services will be held in Musquodoboit Harbour and Fredericton. A graveside service will be held in Vineland. The dates and details will be announced. Memorial donations may be made in Carol’s name to the Recreation Department, the Birches in Musquodoboit Harbour. Carol’s family wishes to thank the staff for the care and attention she received at the Birches. They also thank the Twin Oaks nursing staff and doctors who saw to Carol’s care and comfort at the end of her very full life.