On July 13, 2021, our beloved Mom, Carmen Russell peacefully passed away in the care of the angels at Maison McCulloch Hospice.
This is a love letter to our Mom from her two daughters – Sandra and Joanne. The women we are today is a testament to who our Mom was and all that she taught us about loving and living.
Our Mom was married to our Dad, Floyd for more than 50 years. He was her best friend and the love of her life.
Prior to moving to Sudbury, she lived in Timmins where she was surrounded by her extended family and dear friends. She enjoyed baking – her butter tarts are famous; she loved to dance; hosting and attending gatherings with family and friends; and playing darts. Many a family member and baby were the beneficiaries of her knitting skills.
Our Mom was always expressing how much she cared – she was quick to love – to call folks “pet” and “dear” – to tell those around her how much she loved them. She would always say that she didn’t just love us, she adored us. We felt the same way about her.
In 2015, our Mom was diagnosed with dementia. Whether it was her finely tuned social skills or the range of stimulation from her adventures, her progression seemed slow but persistent. She would often giggle when she made a mistake or couldn’t remember what day it was or what she had for breakfast. There were moments when she would confide in us that “there was something wrong with her head”. She accepted our reassurances that we were there for her no matter what and that we would take good care of her. It seemed to give her confidence to face each day with optimism and to walk through her dementia journey with an elegance and courage that was awe inspiring.
There were many ‘angels’ who played a significant role in our Mom’s final months. The loving care she received from her physicians – Dr. Natalie Goodale, Dr. JoAnne Clarke and Dr. Christine Pun; the support of the care coordinator, nurses, personal support workers, physio therapist, occupational therapist and staff at LaSalle Retirement Home.
Our immediate family – her son-in-law, Gates and the three “boys” (Eric, Charlie, Daniel) as she lovingly called them; her sister-in-law, nieces and nephews will all miss her sweet personality, her kindness and sparkle.
A couple of years ago, the three of us took a trip to see Michael Buble in concert. It was a girls weekend of epic proportions and a chance for our Mom to see her favorite entertainer in person. The memories are precious – much like those of these past number of weeks. On the morning of her death, my Mom was listening to Michael Buble music and we know she is still singing along with him.
Our hearts are broken – we know they will heal. The precious moments will be with us always. We are inspired by our Mom’s resilience and capacity for love. All the best parts of who we are as women, we learned from her. We are her legacy.
With all our love,
Sandra and Joanne