Carol Anne (Laukkanen) Cleworth

Carol Anne (Laukkanen) Cleworth passed away peacefully in the Bulkley Lodge in Smithers, BC on May 25, 2023.

Carol grew up in the little town of Lund, BC, the daughter of Anne and Fred Laukkanen. Fred was a commercial fisherman who unfortunately died at sea when Carol was only 11 years old. With her mom now working two jobs to support the family, Carol’s childhood was cut short as she was left with the responsibility of looking after her little brother Edward (Ted). When she graduated high school at the age of 17, Carol moved to Powell River where she worked as a stenographer for a few years before moving to Maple Ridge to work for the town planner.  Being the animal lover that she was, she decided to purchase a horse and lived out of her tiny travel trailer at the Maple Ridge Riding Centre. This is where she met a tall handsome cowboy - Lawrence (Larry) Cleworth - who took her under his wing to help her train her horse. In 1968 the two were married in Maple Ridge and spent their weekends travelling to rodeos together. They decided to start a family and in 1969, their son Kevin was born, and daughter Julie was born 2 years later. In 1972, they moved their young family north to Lac La Hache in the heart of rodeo country. They bought a quarter section and made it home. Carol loved it as she was an avid gardener and animal lover. She loved to raise baby animals and plants. She would go on to raise poodle puppies, Persian kittens, Arabian horses, and even African violets.  She had an amazing green thumb and was always surrounded by plants and beautiful gardens.

Larry passed away in 2002 and a few years later, Carol decided to sell the property and move north to Smithers with her cat and parrot and a truck load of plants. She always loved to socialize and could often be found in Tim Hortons or MacDonalds visiting over coffee.

Carol spent the last several years of her life in the Bulkley Lodge with advanced dementia. She was predeceased by her father Frederick Laukkanen; her mother Anne Quigley; her brother Ted Laukkanen and her husband Larry Cleworth. Carol is survived by her son Kevin Cleworth (Wendi) and grandson Bradyn of Burnaby, BC; her daughter Julie Cleworth (Michael) of Smithers, BC.; her nieces Leslie Laukkanen-Karl of Taber, Alberta and Melissa Laukkanen of Lethbridge, Alberta.

Carol was laid to rest in McKinley Pioneer Cemetery in Lac La Hache where she is close to her husband, brother, and mother.

Words cannot express how grateful we are for the wonderful team at the Bulkley Lodge and the excellent care they gave to our mother all these years.

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