Dolores Carroll
Dolores Carroll passed away from unexpected health challenges on January 24, 2021, at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, with her daughter Lisa by her side. This picture personifies Dolores Carroll. Dolores was LIGHT, beaming radiant yellow sunshine on a cloudy day. Arm stretched up to the heavens, spreading her message of peace and unwavering faith. A glowing smile because she knew how to live life out loud. Her stylish hat from Chile, representing her passion for travel and adventure.
With all the challenges that Dolores faced, she was always able to find the light in the darkness and streams in the desert. Her peace, strength, and confidence came from one source: her Lord Jesus Christ.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Dolores Theresa Mahura was born on November 5, 1930, in Empress, Alberta. She was raised on a grain farm by Jack and Angela Mahura with her siblings Maureen (1931-1985) and Gwendolyn. At twenty years old, the trajectory of her life changed forever when she met her true love, Lorne Carroll, while on a summer road trip to Ontario. The lovebirds married in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1951, and had 5 beautiful children: Randi (1952-1991), Maureen (1954-1955), Dolorn (1956-1979), Phillip (1960-2012), and Lisa, born 1964 in Calgary. The family moved to Calgary in 1962, where Dolores became the Sales and Convention Manager at the Palliser Hotel. An entrepreneur at heart, Dolores opened an upscale gift shop on Banff Avenue called Glacier Gifts, which she operated for 30 years. For the past decade she has been hosting guests from around the world at her studio vacation rental.
Dolores proudly called Banff her home for over 45 years. She raised her youngest daughter Lisa there and was an integral part of the community. She loved hosting family and friends at barbecues in her beautiful backyard filled with lush flower and vegetable gardens. Some of her favorite outings were nature walks to the Banff Springs Hotel along the Bow Falls Trail, including the 100-stair hike to the top. Dolores was an amazing artist – her sculptures and paintings are admired by all.
Dolores lived a life of faith and was highly active with St. Mary’s Parish. Her sweet voice could often be heard singing the word of the Lord during Sunday mass. God made Dolores good! She was a true example of what it means to walk in God’s light. She brought joy, positivity, and goodness to everything she did and everyone she met.
Lorne, Dolores’s husband of 70 years, passed away on December 19, 2020. Just five weeks later Dolores joined him in eternal love. Dolores is survived by daughter Lisa Carroll; sibling Gwendolyn Pogue; grandchildren Chris (Meghan) Carroll (children Chloe and Charles), Andrea (Jared) McGinley (child Owen), Carson and Olivia Birth, and Jessica and Austin Carroll; daughters-in-law Jennifer Carroll and Nora (Gary) Allen; nieces Leslie and Nicole Timmons and Teresa (Phil) Kemink (children Andre and Dante); nephew Anton Pogue (child Kildy); brother-in-law Robert “Bob” Carroll; sisters-in-law Teresa Stolz (Carroll) and Patricia (Patsy) Carroll; and many nieces and nephews from her Thunder Bay family. And her special family circle of Larry Thomas, Reiny Fercho, Frederick Schubert and Ruskin/Rebekah Gallardo (child Mara). A special thank you to her wonderful caregiver and friend, Clariza Lugtu, who provided extraordinary care for Dolores to her last days.
Dolores lived her life every day to leave her legacy of love, faith, and fun, and this legacy lives on through the lives of the people she touched alone her journey. Dolores's daughter Lisa shares the strength and resilience of her mother and will carry on her tradition of celebrating life to the fullest.
Dolores’s best friend was her younger sister Gwen. They travelled the world together and spoke on the phone every day. Her entrepreneurial brilliance, combined with her love of spirits, will live on through her grandson Chris and his craft brewery, Ol’ Beautiful, in Calgary. Her passion for art and creativity was passed on to granddaughter Olivia as she pursues her education and career as an artist.
Dolores passed on her tenacity and investment savvy to grandson Austin. Until her last days, she was giving him investment advice. Her grandson Carson caught the Dolores bug for travel and learning, having spent the past seven years attending university in the UK and Germany, and now earning his PhD in Physics in Ontario.
Dolores’s ability to light up a room with her effervescent storytelling talents, dance moves, and singing skills were proudly handed down to granddaughter Jessica, a TV host and influencer. Without question, motherhood was Dolores’s greatest love, and that nurturing passion lives on in granddaughter Andrea, amazing mom to “Awesome Owen.”
Dolores was a powerful example of unwavering faith, wholehearted love,
and FUN! Let her radiant light continue to shine down on us and guide us.
A special thank you to Dr. Hoegh-Petersen of Banff, Dr’s Quinlan and Pagenkopf of Canmore. And to the amazing Acute Care nurses in Banff and Canmore – thank you for taking such extraordinary care of Dolores. Raise your Perrier, ice and lemons in her memory!
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital – Palliative Care Room, P.O. Box 1050, Banff Alberta, T1L 1H7
