Carole Frances Gillis nee Beard

November 1, 1943 – March 29, 2023 

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carole Frances Gillis on March 29, 2023 at the Deer Lodge Center in Winnipeg.

Carole is survived by her husband, Joe, sons Richard (Darcee), Jamie (Carola), and Tim (Diana), and grandchildren Camryn, Erik, Brandon and Sarah as well as numerous family members and friends. 

Carole was born in Winnipeg on November 1, 1943 to Eddie and Frances Beard.

With her parents, she spent her early years living in the Weston area before moving to East Kildonan where she attended school and grew up.

Carole graduated from Miles Mac Collegiate and attended the Manitoba Teachers College. Upon graduation, she taught elementary school students before leaving Winnipeg to live in Calgary and Vancouver for several years.

She returned to Winnipeg in 1973 and in 1975 met and married Joe Gillis. They lived for a short time in Windsor Park before moving to the East Kildonan/North Kildonan area to live and raise their 3 sons and enjoy retirement.

Carole was a loving and caring wife and mother who was totally devoted to her family. She was also a very social lady and had many friends, some whom she had known since her childhood. 

Carole was an amazing homemaker. Her house was always spotless and brightly decorated, the food she prepared was second to none and the yard was always meticulously manicured. 

In her spare time, Carole loved to travel, spend time at the cottage, curl in the Rossmere and West Kildonan Ladies league and watch and cheer her sons and grandchildren in their sporting activities.

When Joe retired in 2006, he and Carole spent 4 winters in Weslaco, Texas living the snowbird life. There they were able to be outdoors and enjoy walking, park activities including shuffleboard, tending to her flowers and touring the area, taking in the many local sights. While that was fun, they missed their family and gave up snowbird life for family life in Winnipeg. 

Throughout Caroles life, she was an avid and enthusiastic cheerleader of her sons activities and this carried on with her grandchildren. She never missed a hockey game, soccer game, school play or concert or anything else, no matter what. She was so proud and supportive of her family. 

Carole was a smart, witty, fun loving lady who could easily light up a room with her presence. She loved people and they loved her.

In about 2012, Carole started to show signs of forgetfulness and changes in her personality that were not consistent with her nature. She was subsequently diagnosed with early Dementia. Carole was able to live at home until January of 2021 when she had to go to a personal care home to receive the care she required.

On March 29, 2023, having been visited in the last 12 hours by her sons and daughters in laws, and with her husband, Joe, at her side, Carole passed away at 5:15am.

Thank you to Irene Baron Eden Center, Charleswood Long Term Care Home and Deer Lodge Center for the care given to Carole while she was with you. A special thank you to the staff of T3E at Deer Lodge Center for the kindness and compassion shown to Carole in her final weeks, days and hours.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., in the chapel of  Voyage Funeral Home, 220 Hespeler Ave at Henderson Hwy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. www.alzheimer.mb.ca