Carol Acton
August 10, 1944 – August 10, 2021
It is with heartfelt sorrow that we announce the passing of Carol. She battled cancer quietly but unexpectedly succumbed to it on her 77th birthday. As one of her friends wisely put it, it was her birthday and her “rebirth” day.
Predeceased by parents Ada and Ernest Orville, brother Ronald and sister Norma. She is survived by several cousins.
Carol was born in Strathroy, Ontario. She lived on the family farm just south of Watford and attended Watford High School in Ontario. She graduated from the Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in London in 1966. She moved to Vancouver in 1968 and worked at St. Paul’s Hospital as staff nurse and head nurse on surgical units. She advanced her career completing both an undergraduate (BSN 1974) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at UBC in 1987. After graduating with her Masters, she became Director of Care at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Carol went on to UBC hospital as a Patient Services Manager for the medical units and then moved to VGH. In 1999 she became the first Patient Services Manager for the ACE (Acute Care for Elders) Units at VGH. Carol was instrumental in developing groundbreaking policies in Geriatrics with the ACE Committee as well as leading and supporting staff and other nursing leaders during many changes in the health care system.
Carol retired in 2002 to pursue her passions for swimming, walking, travel with her good friend Ann, playing bridge, and of course, reading. She was gifted with humor, a keen mind, and a ton of energy. An avid convener of friends, you were guaranteed an engaging conversation with Carol.
Carol continued to serve the greater good throughout her life. She was deeply committed to St. Andrews Wesley United Church and contributed her gifts to just about every committee and volunteer position from Ministry and Personnel, pastoral care, Camp Spirit, the music library and in representing the church at presbytery, to name but a few. When she left professional nursing, she volunteered her skills with the Red Cross and First United. Her kindness and generosity were widely shared. Additionally, she was very proud to be able to share her fruit pies, homegrown tomatoes, and Christmas cake.
Carol was very devoted to her own family, her many friends, and her spiritual family. She will always be loved and deeply missed by many who will bear witness to her loss in their lives. Her friends are grieving her loss and cannot believe she is gone. Ann and the Hilton family, Marsha, Gary, Jill, Elaine, Margaret, Joan, Joanne, Fran with the ‘swimming group’, her bridge friends, to name a few, are more than saddened. Her many friends at St. Andrews Wesley United Church played a major and important part of Carol’s world.
A memorial service was held at St. Andrews Wesley United Church on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
September 2021
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