Carolyn Marie Keenan

Carolyn Marie Keenan, a devoted wife and mother, a doting grandmother and a Yahtzee whiz, passed away peacefully on April 10 at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.

She was widowed at a young age and left with a young son to raise, but found love again and had two more children with her second husband, Michael, the usual victim of her skill at Yahtzee and dominoes.

In addition to Michael, she leaves her son, Nathan Thompson, and his wife, Brittany; her son, Andrew Keenan (Daniela Poyner); and her daughter, Sarah Keenan. Grandson Colton Thompson was the bright light of her last two years. She glowed every time she saw him or spoke of him.

Carolyn was born in Markdale, Ontario, on October 2, 1967. She grew up on a farm outside of Holland Centre. After graduating from the Community Worker Program at Humber College, she chose a career of helping those less fortunate. She was a long-time counsellor with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel Halton, including working as a manager at Ellen House, a halfway house for women run by the society. She was also a counsellor in the crime prevention and community counselling program. Carolyn also worked as an early childhood educator at schools and daycares throughout Mississauga and supervised family visits through the Peel Children's Aid Society.

Puttering in the garden was a favourite pastime, as well as sitting in an arena or next to a baseball or soccer field cheering on Nathan, Andrew and Sarah.

She is grieved by her mother, Marion Thompson; her brothers, James (Kerrie Harris) and Robert (Darlene Lipskie); and her sisters, Joanne (Paul Potter) and Kathryn. Predeceased by her father Bruce Thompson and brothers David and Bradley.

Carolyn will be missed by sisters-in-law Patricia (Brent Sutton), Catherine (Sam Clarke), and Mary Ellen (Mike Reid), and brother-in-law Greg (Patti Tasko). Predeceased by parents-in-law Jack and Hannah Keenan.

She is survived by many family members of her first husband, Thomas Thompson, including her mother-in-law, Helen Thompson, and brothers and sisters-in-law, Neil Thompson (Tina Hurlbut), Linda Snowden (Ken), Sharon Thompson (Gary McLean), Randy Thompson (Heather Manning), and Valerie Manning (Fred). Predeceased by father-in-law Leslie Thompson. She is mourned by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Donations in Carolyn's memory to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Liver Foundation of Canada would be appreciated.

We have faith that she has left behind the struggles of a lifetime and will rest in eternal peace.

A Celebration of Life will be held later this spring.