Carmel Mary Loader

Carmel Mary Merwina Loader (née MacDonald) passed away peacefully two years to the day after the death of Clive Gerald Loader, her husband of 59 years.

Carmel, nicknamed the Energizer Bunny by Clive, will be remembered for her positive outlook and her strong belief in using one’s energy to help others. She lived a life of gratitude and that, along with her strong faith, supported her through any difficulties life threw at her. Upon the death of her eldest son Stevie from a three-year battle with leukaemia, she wrote a thank you letter to the hospital; they replied they had many thank you letters over the years, but hers was the first to recount all the happy memories at the hospital.

Born in the small town of Bartibog Bridge outside of Chatham, New Brunswick, Carmel grew up during the Great Depression, when money was tight but her parents instilled in her a belief to help others less fortunate, feeding those who came in hunger to their door. Carmel attended teachers’ college and taught all over the Maritimes, making lifelong friends, before teaching at Royal Canadian Air Force elementary schools. Her first posting was to Gander in Newfoundland Labrador before taking up a position in Germany in 1960, where she and her girlfriends spent their vacations exploring Europe and the Middle East. On the airbase Carmel met Clive, a RCAF fighter jet pilot and the love of her life. They were married in 1962 and returned to Canada two years later.

Clive’s job led to the family moving from coast to coast while making friends across the country. After Clive’s retirement, they returned to Victoria where they were both active at Holy Cross Catholic Church and volunteering. Together with Clive, she served meals at the 9-10 Club soup kitchen for almost two decades, canvassed for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, regularly visited the sick and those in care, and much more. She was a keen cook and baker and felt any situation could be remedied by the gift of baked treats and homemade strawberry jam, as well as a listening ear with words of encouragement.

Carmel and Clive were both gardeners, but while Clive’s passion was for flowering gardens, her interest was on vegetables born of her focus on feeding people! She was especially known for extraordinary tomato growing skills, sharing her bounty with friends. She was also supremely organized and kept the family on track, informed by her devotion to her daily newspaper, the nightly news and the weather channel.

Carmel passed away on March 3, 2023 at Mount St. Mary Hospital in Victoria, after what she called a good life. She is survived by her children Michael, Bonnie (John), Colleen, and Randy, her grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Carmel was predeceased by her husband Clive, her son Stevie, her brothers Burchill and Al, and her twin sister Lourdes. She will be missed by the many friends and relatives she has kept up with by phone and letters over the years.

The family would like to thank the staff of Mount St. Mary Hospital (long term care) and previously Berwick House for their wonderful care of Carmel.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4049 Gordon Head Road, Victoria, BC at 11:00 am on March 11, 2023 followed by a private burial at Royal Oak Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, those who desire may consider a donation to Mount St. Mary Hospital. https://mountstmary.ca/

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com