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After earning a Bachelor of Science in Foods and
Nutrition from Purdue University, Carol went on to complete a
post-graduate program at The Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston. Following that she spent 25 years working as a Registered
Dietitian. For 12 years she worked in major teaching hospitals.
During this time she wrote several technical papers, published in
peer reviewed journals and delivered numerous lectures at educational
events. Eventually she was asked to chair a committee that revised
the Nutritional Care Manual for the Province of Ontario. This
position was carried out as a joint effort between the Ontario
Dietetic, Hospital and Medical Associations. Carol was responsible,
along with her committee, for the editing and production of a 700
page text book that was at the cutting edge of nutritional
practices.
Her fine work earned her a nomination to become
President of the Ontario Dietetic Association, a position she held
in 1990-91. During this time she was hired to work as the Director
of Nutritional Affairs for Clintec Nutrition Company. A significant
part of her work during the 5 years she held this position involved
teaching, writing, traveling and lecturing on topics in clinical
nutritional. Carol’s editorial and writing skills were once again
brought to the front in the publication of a newsletter that was
utilized as a teaching tool for health care providers across North
America.
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Carol
chose to retire from full time work at the time her youngest
daughter, Lauren entered kindergarten in 1994. She then went on to
do contract writing and government liaison work for the Dietetic
Association. In addition she took on contracts that involved media
related education working in television and radio. This was also a
time of active community volunteerism. Among other things Carol
chaired the local PTA, helped to set up the newly mandated School
Council and taught Sunday School. In her spare time she bred and
exhibited Portuguese Water Dogs, a breed she owns and loves to this
day.
Carol’s career aspirations came to a screeching halt at the age
of 43 when in 1997 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The
months following her successful surgery were a time of
questioning, frustration and re-evaluation of the meaning of
life. After Lauren’s untimely death Carol stopped working
altogether; stopped working for pay at least. This was, however,
a time of the most challenging life work of all; trying to
reconcile the passage of events in her life. |
Kim (age 10),
Lauren (age 6),
Carol and Tony, 1995
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Lauren (age 9), May 1999
2 months before the accident |
Carol’s strong background in science, nutrition and health
care helped to form a foundation for healing. She joined a
gym and used fitness to release the stress of that time as
well as to regain the physical strength and mental toughness
that was required to complete the day to day journey
inherent in facing loss. Fitness, in fact became a
significant cornerstone in her life. So much so that in 2004
she qualified to work as a personal trainer and ultimately
started a small business geared towards the
wellness goals of fitness, nutrition and meditation. In her
business she hopes to provide a comfortable
place for those
struggling with loss to address important issues of
self-care.
Simultaneous to her fitness career Carol took
several courses at The University of Western Ontario, King’s
College, in order to investigate the academic underpinnings of grief
and bereavement, a path she knew all too well from an experiential
basis. She has volunteered through Bereaved Families of Ontario (BFO)
where she served on the program advisory committee. She completed a
training course offered through BFO which enabled her to serve as a
group facilitator for bereaved parents, a service she has offered to
numerous families. She regularly offers peer support to individuals
facing loss. Carol is devoted to helping the bereaved empower
themselves and move towards health and healing.
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