Carol Ann (Dumond) Clarkson

Carol Ann Clarkson (Dumond)

December 23 1951 to August 6, 2026

Peacefully in Claresholm Hospital with family by her side Carol Ann Clarkson drifted into eternal sleep in her 74th year.

Born at St Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton Ontario, Carol was the 2nd born of four daughters to Lawrance (Bud) Dumond and Joyce Arbour-Dumond.  Greeting her arrival were grandparents Bert and Jessie Arbour, (aunt) Gloria Arbour and her big sister 3 ½ year old Linda.  She was named “Carol” for the Christmas carols being sung at that time of the year.

At the age of three, in Alliston Carol fell on her head while swinging upside down on the railing attached to the church next door which necessitated an emergency trip to the hospital for stitches.  Carol wore her wound like a true warrior, pushing back her blonde curls for the neighbour hood kids to see.

Carol was an army brat – a title kids of military parents wear proudly.  It was at Camp Borden that her family realized her love of animals.  Instead of going to the show with her sister Linda, she spent her quarter to buy a chicken from a neighbour boy.  Sadly, she didn’t get to keep it. but over the years she did raise guinea pigs, hamsters, budgie birds, a white mouse that kept getting out of his cage, dogs, cats and even a horse.

Carol was the tomboy in a family of girls; she was the protecter of her sisters (twin girls had been added to the family) and often got into scraps with boys in the neighbourhood.  Never shy with her words, she’d run in the house and say “hurry up Mom with lunch, I have to get out there and fight the boys.”

She was an adventurer and moved from Ontario to Quebec, then out west to settle in Alberta with her final destination in Claresholm.

Carol gathered friends wherever she went.  She loved to cook and bake and often shared with neighbours.  For many years she tended her vegetable garden, which she also shared.  Carol was artistic and loved to draw and paint.  She wrote poetry about summers she spent with grandparents.  Her favourite memory was walking uptown with her Grandpa to get ice cream.  From an early age she loved doll houses, a hobby which grew to the many exquisite miniatures she has today of a plantation house, a pioneer general store, Christmas houses and so many others.  Speaking of Christmas, we’re reminded that this was her favourite time of year.

For many years Carol braved a genetic heart disease called HOCM – Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Type 2 Diabetes, Diverticulitis and more recently kidney disease and lastly cancer.  She was so grateful to the medical teams that helped her to have a little more time to enjoy life.

Carol left this world peacefully, with her “baby” sister Donna, brother-in-law Rene Lafontaine and niece Jacqueline holding her hand.  She will be dearly missed by her son Marc McGrath, (Stacie), grandson Jesse McGrath (Bridgit); big sister Linda (Charron) and many nieces and nephews, friends and family.  And of course, her fur baby “Chico”.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter Shari Lee Ann, her parents, younger sister Darlene (Davidson), long-time brother-in-law Carl Charron, nephew Travis Ruttan and great-niece Andrea Gunby.

Carol’s family would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts who supported her through her illnesses.  The medical teams, friends, neighbours and especially Donna, Rene and Jacqueline who made living in her own home possible.

At Carol’s request there will be no memorial service.   Please remember her for the kind generous and courageous person she was… and if you can support her causes Claresholm Care for Pets; The Kidney Foundation; the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.

No more pokes, prods, needles…….no more procedures…….and no more pain.  As Carol would say “Life is good”

Please visit zentnerfuneralhomes.ca to leave a condolence.

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