THOMSON, Carol Anne Thomson

it was with great sorrow and love that we said good-bye to Carol Anne Thomson – mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend. She was loved fiercely by her daughters, Trisha, Deni, and Tori and adored by her grandchildren Kirby, Maxx, Mackenzie, Jake, and great-grandchildren Averie and baby Ian. While this moment is so difficult for those who knew her, we are honoring her final wishes and ask those who also loved her to celebrate her by thinking of a favourite memory or two and finding peace in those memories.
Our mom loved growing up in Riverside. She often smiled as she reminisced about dances, roller-skating in the arena, and enjoying fries and cherry Coke at the Big Boy on Tecumseh Road. While she lived in different places throughout her life and made friends wherever she went, Riverside always held a special place in her heart and she was thrilled to return.
Our home was always filled with music and dancing. Our mom loved to host family and friends for both big and small events. You knew you were in the right place when she opened the door wearing her signature pearls and bright pink lipstick. Kirby was always “Coco’s” biggest and most hopeful advocate, always willing to be at her side no matter what. Maxx, Mackenzie, and Jake have such fond memories of being with their granny at the cottage, going on adventurous road trips, and endless dancing to the Gypsy Kings and Eagles. Laughter and love filled their time together. Great-granddaughter Averie, granny’s “sweet girl” enjoyed playing cards and talking with her. She was just getting to know and adore great-grandson Ian who she thought was such a beautiful boy. Our mom wanted her sisters Sandy and Kim to know that “there aren’t enough words to tell you both how much you were loved.”
Our mom enjoyed many wonderful life-long friendships full of laughter, inside jokes, girls’ night sleepovers, and lively conversations over glasses of wine. She loved her Wednesday morning bowling girls where sharing colourful stories was more important than any score. She truly loved her friends, whether they sat together on her sunporch to catch up or talked for hours by phone. To her closest friends, near and far, she wanted you to know that you all “kept each other together through cheers and tears”.
Our mom had a quick sense of humour and always found a way to make people smile. She had a kind and generous spirit, always making sure that those she loved were cared for. She loved to have a full house where we all gathered and shared our latest adventures. She was always our biggest cheerleader and thought anything we did was amazing. Our mom could make a gourmet meal out of three ingredients, plant a whimsical garden within a day, and create a Christmas wonderland in her home every year. She especially loved her “pretty pretties” that were scattered throughout her home. It was never a surprise to find a new little treasure when visiting. She had a knack for finding the most interesting and special things.
While our mom loved the palm trees of Florida, she loved her sweet home even more – her backyard oasis with her “bunkie” was a quiet outdoor space where she could read and enjoy moments of peace with her beloved puppies Izzy and Bear. While she described the bunkie as pleasantly “outdoorsy”, she always added “it’s like camping, but with great linens.”
Our mom loved the movie Once Around and asked us to watch it again and again and sing along to one of her favourite songs, Fly Me to the Moon. Mom, we hope that you find peace, that you get to play among the stars, and that your heart is always filled with song. We promise to think of you often, to remember joyful moments throughout our lives, and to keep our love for you alive through shared stories. For those who knew her, our mom was like sunshine- when you were with her you felt nothing but warmth and comfort. We will continue to look for moments of our mom in all the things she treasured, in the places she loved, in the songs she sang (or hummed), and in all the beautiful personal memories we hold. We feel comforted that our mom is now reunited with our dad, who is likely greeting her with a whistle and an invitation to dance.
Survived by: Trisha Kovosi (Ernie), Deni Melim (Paul), Tori Thomson, Kirby Passarello (Anita), Averie, Ian, Maxx Labonte (Claudia), Mackenzie Melim (Jarryd), Jake Melim, Sandra Zakosky (Alex), Sarah and Ben, and Kim Rupert (Brian). Predeceased by: Gordon (Sandy) Thomson, June and Bill Renaud. Private family cremation has taken place.