Cara's Convenience owner Paula Tarini passed away from cancer Oct. 28, just shy of her 60th birthday. Her family was at her side.
Five years ago, Tarini was diagnosed with breast cancer. Then, in October 2016, she was diagnosed with cancer in her liver.
Her obituary said she “was determined and fought a courageous battle with cancer. Her positivity and faith were her driving force.”
According to information provided by Business and Professional Women (BPW) Greater Sudbury, of which she was a member, while Cara's Convenience may have started as a small Gatchell-area convenience store, Tarini and her family took the concept to a whole new level.
More than 30 years after first opening its doors, Cara’s Convenience, which Tarini opened with husband Luigi in 1988, is known far and wide for its home-baked goods and sandwiches.
Tarini started her entrepreneurial journey while she was working full-time at Sudbury Hydro as the manager of conservation.
She would balance her time between work and building her business, finally retiring from Sudbury Hydro in 2014, after 38 years.
“In her spare time before and after her retirement, she was always popping into the store, making sure everything was running smoothly,” said her obituary.
Tarini has overcome challenges in her business; those challenges included accommodating the changing local economy and still creating a place in Cara's Convenience where people could come and enjoy good food in a friendly atmosphere.
BPW Greater Sudbury has recognized Tarini for her business accomplishments.
This past June, she was presented with the club's Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also named BPW Greater Sudbury's Woman of the Month in September 2018.
“Paula demonstrates a very determined and positive mindset that is truly admirable,” said BPW Greater Sudbury president Marianne Matichuk, in a September 2018 press release.
“Her positive outlook on life and working 110 per cent no matter what the situation she faces, is truly remarkable and deserves a great deal of recognition.”
Tarini always found time to contribute to community causes.
Cara’s sponsored the midget hockey team Cara’s Nickel Capitals for 10 years, provided lunches for the Big Nickel Tournaments, provided food for the Infant Food Bank during Christmas, provided coats for kids and the less fortunate in our community, donated gift baskets for various galas and charitable organizations and provided food to hockey teams and families in the community.
Tarini is “an outstanding woman, and BPW Greater Sudbury would like to recognize her strength, perseverance and dedication to creating a place where people can come and experience happiness and comfort while eating amazing homemade foods,” said the BPW press release.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Luigi Tarini, and her kids Cara (Julien Marleau) and Kyle (Caroline Auger).
A visitation takes place at the Jackson & Barnard Funeral Home from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. A memorial mass takes place at St. Patrick's Church on Walford Road Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, her family say they'd appreciate donations to the Maison McCulloch Hospice or the Northern Cancer Foundation.
