Caroline Rose Oko (nee Maguire)
April 8, 1949 ~ January 6, 2012
After a courageous and determined battle with cancer, Caroline Rose Oko (Carrie) of Erickson passed away peacefully in the Creston Valley Hospital with her sons at her side on Friday January 6, 2012.
Carrie passed into the loving arms of her mother Anne, her brother and sister-in-law Linda and Jim Maguire, sister-in-law Joni Maguire, and her father-in-law Peter Oko.
Carrie was born on April 8, 1949 in St. Paul, Alberta as the youngest of five children born to Emmett and Anne Maguire. After completing high school in St. Paul, in 1966 Carrie went on to train as a psychiatric nurse at Alberta Hospital in Edmonton where she graduated in 1970. While in training as a nurse, Carrie met her future husband Garth Oko, son of Peter and Hilda Oko, whom she married in 1969. Carrie worked as a psychiatric nurse at the Alberta Hospital in Edmonton from 1970 until she moved with Garth to the Creston Valley in 1973.
Carrie and Garth built a life together in Creston, raising their two sons at their home in the Oko orchard in Erickson. While Garth tended to the orchard, Carrie worked in her chosen profession at the Creston Valley Hospital, Pioneer Villa, Swan Valley Lodge and Home Support and influenced the lives of many future caregivers through her teaching of long term care aides at the College of the Rockies. Carrie’s loving kindness to all she met was most evident with all those who received her compassionate care.
Carrie loved her family with a passion, especially her sons Chad (Amy) of Vancouver and Kory Oko of Victoria, BC. Her family was made complete with the birth of her grandchildren Caiden, Chantelle and most recently Conner. Carrie’s beautiful blue eyes never shone as brightly as they did when she had her grandchildren in her arms.
Carrie is also survived by a large circle of loving family and friends who are left to mourn her passing including her father Emmett Maguire of Creston, mother-in-law Hilda Oko of Creston, her sister Marlene Billey (Marshall) of Creston, brother Charlie Maguire of West Bank, BC, brother Jack Maguire (Rosemarie) of St. Albert, Alberta, sister-in-law Carolyn Oko of Galliano Island, brother and sister-in-law Kurt and Darlene Oko of Country Harbour, Nova Scotia and nieces and nephews Leanne, Pam, Kelly, Nahanni, Emma, Dean, Shawn and Liam.
Carrie was blessed with the gift of a beautiful voice, a gift which she shared with so many, bringing comfort and joy by singing at weddings and funerals throughout the valley. Her voice will surely now be joined with the angels.
A service for Carrie was held on Saturday January 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Creston.
Carrie’s family is grateful for the love and support of Carrie’s many close friends in Creston and Alberta during this difficult time. We would like to acknowledge all the friends who were kind enough to bring cake, cookies, lasagne, stew and flowers to the house. The family will also be forever appreciative of the compassionate care Carrie received in the palliative care center at the Creston Valley hospital, where her immediate family from across Canada were able to gather together and be with Carrie during her final days.
In lieu of flowers, Carrie’s family would ask that donations be made to the Palliative Care Room at the Creston Valley Hospital or the BC Cancer Society.
“She has slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God”
(High Flight – John Magee Jr)