December 6, 1942 - October 2, 2023

In Loving Memory ~

It is with immense sorrow that we announce the loss of our beloved Carole Aileen Dainard (nee Toppings).

After an unbelievably stoic battle with cancer, her final week in the hospital was spent surrounded by her husband Norton, her son Cam, her daughter Cindy and her granddaughter Tiana. Norton and their cherished dog "Chica," were with her until daybreak when she left us. They had been inseparable for their entire 68 years together. Carole moved from Kipling Saskatchewan to Port Kells at the age of 6 with her adoptive parents, Herb and Hazel Toppings, and her adopted siblings, Earle and Thelma.

After marrying in 1961, they had two children, Cindy and Cameron (and later a granddaughter Tiana). Both parents (the Toppings and Lorne and Trudy Dainard) helped them to build a house behind the Hillcrest Drive-In Theater in Clayton.

In 1971 Carole and Norton purchased shares in the Herriot Bay Inn on Quadra Island. They lived there and in Courtenay until 1979. She worked tirelessly to fill many roles in the operation of the business, while continuing to nurture her young family. In the following decades they moved to Calgary, then to Cloverdale.

In 1995 they moved to Ladysmith to their ocean/mountain view property on Vancouver Island. They have never stopped developing their personal Shangri-la.

Carole continued to work part time as the irreplaceable executive administrator of their commercial insurance business until last year. As the full-time executive administrator of the household, however, we still laugh that she demanded to receive a salary higher than his. She also, selflessly, took on the part-time care of her granddaughter, while Cindy was working in the film industry.

Her true passion though came about when she began to volunteer at the Ladysmith Food Bank. She spent over 20 years helping to organize the facility. She managed the distribution of the food to those in need. She became an integral part of that organization.

With her formative years being influenced by church and farm communities, she truly understood how important it was to support families in need. She continues today to serve their needs by way of a very generous charitable donation.

In Saltair, she wasted no time in collaborating with Norton to create her dream sewing room, gardens and patios - the three places that fed her soul for close to 30 years. Her "honey-do" list was never-ending. Carole was constantly sending canning and jams to everyone. She hand-made well over a 100 of the most beautiful quilts for every child born in her extended family. Feeling as her days were numbered when she became ill, she went into overdrive. She took quilt squares she knew she wouldn't have time to finish, and turn them into animal blankets, and donated dozens of them to the SPCA.

Up until her last few weeks, she just never stopped. Her tenacity, bravery, and courage were beyond what anyone would ever expect from someone who was so ill.

As the matriarch of our family, there is now a massive void. However, we are forever grateful for the time we have had with her. Right up to her final days on this earth.

A Celebration of an Extraordinary Life will take place on June 21 between 1 PM-4 PM at the Cloverdale Legion. Please join our family in memory of Carole.

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