CAROLINA MARNER Carolina Marner (nee Reimer) slipped away peacefully at Heritage Lodge in Winnipeg, with family by her side, on March 21, 2009. She was predeceased by her parents, Peter F. and Margaret Reimer, two sisters, Esther and Annie, and one brother, Tunney. She leaves to cherish her memory, Edward and Evelina Reimer, Adeline and Abe Wiebe, Elizabeth Koop, a number of nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends. Carolina Marner was born on July 1, 1925, in the family home at Clearsprings, near Steinbach, Manitoba. At the age of three she fell out of a moving car and broke a leg, which was fixed by a country chiropractor. After her father died, when she was seven years old the family moved to a small house that Grandpa Penner built for the family behind his store in Blumenort. When she was fifteen years old the family moved to a small farm a mile west, were she milked cows and did other farm chores as a teenager. She also worked frequently for neighbors, doing housework and farm work to help feed the family. Very early in life her heart was set on becoming a nurse. She worked as a nurse’s aide in Steinbach for a few years before taking her grade ten and then Practical Nurse’s training. After working for a few years as a practical nurse, she completed her grade eleven, and then took her R. N. training at Grace Hospital. She served as an R. N. in several hospitals, including stints in Sacramento and Palm Springs, specializing in obstetrics, before she took her nursing degree at U. M. and then taught for a number of years at Misericordia Hospital. Wherever she worked she made close friends who were very important in her life, and whom she eared for very much, maintaining active correspondence with those from whom she was separated and exchanging cards and notes, on special occasions such as Christmas, birthdays and times of bereavement or health problems. Carol loved cooking, sewing and crafts. She sewed and remade many of her own clothes, having a flare for style. Her fabulous blintzes and peanut clusters were always there for special occasions and Christmas. She loved making gifts and beautiful things with dried flowers. She married Eric Marner later in life. She loved spending time at their cottage at Moose Lake and enjoyed gardening and entertaining family and friends there, and together they enjoyed many winters in California. For her this was a special treat, as she enjoyed the sun very much. Carol loved children. Her nieces and nephews were very important to her. She also valued her step-daughter with her family very much, even though they were far away, and treasured the rare opportunities she had to meet them. She also accepted the role of adoptive grandmother to the child of a friend, who had no grandparents in North America. Also, over the years she sponsored a number of needy children through World Vision. Carol’s ministry of caring for others was not limited to her professional life. She was a faithful caregiver to our Mother for many years as her health failed, and cared for her husband with devotion when his health failed, and also to her brother Tunney. She was also always there for friends when they had health problems, and when any aunt or uncle experienced health problems or bereavements they could count on a card or a visit from Carol. Carol’s deep personal faith in Jesus as her savior was central to all her life decisions. She maintained a long prayer list, including many friends as well as current political, social and religious issues, and practiced faithful tithing, no matter what her financial circumstances. While she did not attend church services regularly in later years, she was a regular listener to media ministries that she financially supported and that nurtured her spiritually. Family Christmas gatherings were important times for Carol, especially as these provided a chance to meet with her nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. The last such gathering she attended was in December 2002. She participated enthusiastically in the activities, and seemed to genuinely enjoy spending the time with her extended family. Soon after this family gathering, in early January, she was admitted to Victoria General Hospital because of failing health, never to return to her condominium, which she loved dearly as her home. A few months later she was transferred to the Heritage Lodge Care Home. For some time she expressed a strong desire to return to her beloved condo, but she soon settled into Heritage Lodge as her home, assuming, in her mind, the continuing role of caregiver to other residents as well as supervisor of staff. She was a congenial and pleasant resident, loved and enjoyed by the staff. Carolina’s family is deeply grateful to the staff at Heritage Lodge for the comfortable home, loving care and genuine friendship they gave to Carolina during the final six years of her life. The Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Dr, Steinbach with interment at the Blumenort EMC Cemetery.