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Carolyn Sausmarez Hunt (née Carey)

November 5, 2022

M6Z9B6S7-20230127114743
November 5, 2022
1931-2022  ~  Carol died unexpectedly in White Rock on November 5, 2022 at the age of 91.
The eldest daughter of Mary and Ralph Carey, Carol was born in Winnipeg but also resided in Calgary and Ottawa during her formative years.
She was predeceased in 2015 by Dave, her husband for 65 years, and in 1988 by son-in-law Warren Manning.
She is survived by children Laurie (John), David (Georgina), Eric (Margaret), Carey (Greg); grandchildren Ryan (Alexandra), Olivia (Kevin), Rafe (Olivia), Grace (Dan), Erin, Lia, Cameron; eight great-grandchildren; sisters Jocelyn Willis, Susan Tennant, Linda Stead; and sister-in-law Margaret Carter (née Hunt).
She was predeceased by Ian Morrison and Averil Thompson who were evacuated from England during WWII to live in the Carey household and became family.
Carol attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa and Kelvin High School and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. A lifelong mathematics enthusiast and education advocate, she entered the workplace once her children were all in school, working with Statistics Canada in Winnipeg while completing her Master of Arts in Political Studies. She later transferred to and eventually retired from StatsCan in Vancouver.
A lifelong athlete, Carol took on any sport available to her in her youth including playing basketball for the University of Manitoba. She embraced running, walking, swimming, barre, weightlifting and Pilates in later years and completed her last half-marathon at 79 on her 60th wedding anniversary.
She never tired of navigating White Rock's endless hills and pathways. At 88, Carol trekked over 20 km daily on a hiking trip in Italy. The cabin at Star Lake remained her treasured retreat, where she could swim regardless of the weather or water temperature.
Carol was passionate about politics and the world. A strong and independent Canada, universal health care, the CBC, women's rights, public transit, and answering for her generation's impact on the environment were critical to her. She was a generous supporter of a wide range of charities. She upheld the art of the written letter and posted notes unfailingly to acknowledge gifts and life milestones.
She enjoyed jazz and classical music, especially piano works by Chopin and Liszt, and was a proficient piano player herself. Amiably competitive, she enjoyed not only the quirks of cribbage but also musical chairs. She read voraciously, and British detective television series were not to be missed.
The homes on Winnipeg's Baltimore Road and White Rock's Parker Street were welcoming beacons for family and visitors for nearly 60 years. Carol loved family dinners, lively with much laughter, music, and diverse conversation topics that usually required Funk & Wagnalls to resolve uncertainties.
Her legendary lasagne, rolls, cookies, brownies, and Christmas cakes were awaited eagerly. These traditions continued when Carol, steadfastly independent, moved to her sun-filled White Rock apartment in 2020.
Carol was her family's steadying force with her unwavering moral compass and a sophisticated sounding board for life's successes and challenges. She cherished not only her family but her many friends. She took keen interest in each and every one and touched so many as a result. She remains an inspiration to anyone fortunate enough to have spent time with her.
Her life will be celebrated at a later date. Donations in Carol's memory may be made to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, or any charity reflective of her passions.