Marie Catherine CARIGNAN

Marie Catherine-Ann Carignan, 77, passed on November 4th in her home serenaded by her loving partner of nearly 39 years, George Hurlbut, playing guitar by her side.

Marie was born in Cranbrook and raised on a farm in south east Saskatchewan with her five younger siblings. At 19, Marie married Albert Carignan and moved to the Elk Valley to work in the logging industry and raise a family. The family lived in many places throughout the Elk Valley, starting in Michel/Natal, and eventually building their own home in Fernie in 1977, where Marie lived for 44 years.

Marie was widowed in 1981 and found herself with six dependent children, large payments, and no credit to her name. She found a job as a custodian at Fernie High School and worked to become a teaching assistant and later an administrative assistant.  She met George through Midget hockey on bus trips to away games for her sons when George was refereeing. They enjoyed long drives and walking in the bush with their dogs, exploring every backroad in the region.

Marie was an avid reader of historical fiction, a cut-throat Scrabble player and a talented, closeted artist.  She greatly enjoyed her book club monthly gatherings over many years. Marie was an animal lover, who enjoyed cats, dogs, and a budgie as her dear pets.

Marie’s ashes were interred beside a red maple at her Fernie home.  She is survived by partner George Hurlbut, and five of her children, Collette Gallagher; Lise; Lucien (Angela); Roland (Yvonne); Gaëtane (Humberto Alvarado) and her grandchildren Helena & Bridget Gallagher; Clark, Courtney, Lindsey, Tonia & Max Carignan and Jade Alvarado Carignan. She is predeceased by her daughter Thérèse. Marie is already deeply missed by family and friends alike.