BEAVER, Carol Jane (Strachan) (Maxwell) - (January 16, 1935 – April 7, 2021) - Peacefully, at 86 years old, in Aurora, Ontario.
Carol was a woman of quiet faith who cherished family and friends. She proudly remembered her service as a nurse, and deeply enjoyed her creative journey as an artist. Carol was a graduate of Wellesley Nursing College (1959) and employed her nursing training in a range of contexts throughout her life.
Carol was modest about her work as lay missionary for the United Church of Canada, during which time she utilized her nursing training in her public health work with rural families in southern Brazil with her first husband, Lloyd Strachan.
Living in a culture and language different from her childhood, Carol nevertheless fostered a wide circle of deep friendships with expats and Brazilians alike. Many of these have been life-long connections.
Upon her return to Canada in 1980, Carol once again crossed a cultural boundary, returning to a different Canada from the one she had left in 1962. She settled in Aurora, Ontario with her family, regained her nursing credentials, found the Aurora United Church and created a home where her children and their friends often congregated, including a group of recently immigrated Brazilians.
In 1998 Carol reconnected with her High School sweetheart, W.T. Dalton Maxwell, DVM (deceased), returned to public health and began to explore painting. Art was Carol’s constant companion through the last 20 years of her life, during which time she produced numerous pieces of art which tell the tale of her life, including the beauty of the various lands she visited and the expression of sorrows for life’s losses.
Carol was predeceased by her much loved daughter, Sylvia Ann Strachan. She will be deeply missed by her children, Andrea Lee Strachan (Fritz van den Heuvel), Peter Strachan (Karen Cooper), Carlos Strachan (Lindsey) and her son-in-law, Marc Davidson. Her grandchildren, Chelsea Dowhan, Anton Strachan, Laurence and Seren Davidson and Daphne Maxwell will miss their Vó. She is remembered fondly by stepsons Robert Maxwell (Lisa Mooney), Davie Maxwell (Pam Hedderson), and Craig Maxwell. She was always grateful for the love and support of her brother, Kenneth W. Beaver (Sheila).
Cremation has taken place. A service will be held in Aurora at a later time. Arrangements entrusted with Thompson funeral home, Aurora.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to CAMH in remembrance of Sylvia.
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