Obituary of Donna Ruth Carrie (nee Thomas)

CARRIE, Donna Ruth (née Thomas), of St. Thomas, passed away peacefully at Parkwood Institute, London on Sunday, September 3, 2017, in her 78th year.  Beloved wife for over 54 years to James R. “Jamie” Carrie.  Dearly loved mother of Scott Carrie (Jennifer), Greg Carrie (Marilyn), Pam Deven (Chris), all of St. Thomas, and Jeff Carrie (Ai Inoue) of Vancouver, BC.  Loving grandmother of Spencer, Charlotte, and Talbot Carrie, Matthew and Emily Deven, and step-grandmother of Adam Kotanko, all of St. Thomas. Dear sister of Dr. Paul Thomas (Fran) of Kelowna, BC, and David Thomas (Janet) of Ottawa.  Dear sister-in-law of Isabel Curtis (late Stan) of R.R.8, St. Thomas, John and Verity Carrie of Muskoka, late Dr. Alan Carrie and the late Jean Carrie.  Also fondly remembered by several nieces and nephews and their families.  Born in St. Thomas, October 10, 1939, she was the daughter of the late John and Ruth (née MacFarlane) Thomas.  Donna graduated from the Wellesley School of Nursing, Toronto and the University of Western Ontario Diploma in Public Health Nursing Program.  She worked as a research assistant at the U.W.O. Medical School.  In 1983, after completing a refresher program at Fanshawe College, she returned to nursing at Resthaven Nursing Home, St. Thomas and the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, and finished her career as a case manager with the St. Thomas Elgin C.C.A.C.  Donna was an active member of Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas where she was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Women and the Women’s Missionary Society for many years.  She was a former YWCA board member, a member of the former Tonti Chapter I.O.D.E., and a former member of the Women’s Committee of the Art Gallery St. Thomas-Elgin.  She also served on the first board of directors of the Serenity House Hospice.  In recent years, Donna coordinated a sewing group for Faith’s Orphan Fund which made clothing and knitted goods for Zambia Orphans of AIDS.  In August of 2010, she was particularly gratified to be part of the PAN Missions Canada team that travelled to Nicaragua.  In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place.  Relatives and friends will be received by the family at the SIFTON FUNERAL HOME, 118 Wellington St., St. Thomas (519-631-1160) on Thursday, September 14th from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.  A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church, 55 Hincks St., St. Thomas on Friday, September 15th at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception in Rodney Hall.  Donna’s cremated remains will be buried privately in Elmdale Memorial Park.  Flowers respectfully declined.  Memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Knox Presbyterian Church, or St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation (re: Palliative Care at Parkwood Institute) will be gratefully acknowledged.  The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the medical and nursing teams at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and Parkwood Institute, as well as Dr. Brian Dingle at the London Regional Cancer Program for the wonderful care provided to Donna.