In loving memory of Dolores Carter, who passed away on April 7, 2024— she is survived by her six children, 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Her husband Boyce Carter predeceased her in 2013. She was the last surviving sibling of the Giesinger-Metz family.
Dolores Dorisina Giesinger was born on January 27, 1931, in Holdfast, Saskatchewan but she was not meant to stay a prairie girl. When she was barely school age, her family moved to Kelowna B.C., where she, two brothers and a sister grew up in a hard-working and musical household. Music would always play an important role in her life.
Dolores liked to tell the story of when, as a young girl, she would run out the door to meet a friend, and her Dad would catch her, saying, “Sit down and let’s play one song together, Dolores.” So she accompanied him on the piano and he played the accordion. But it was never just one song. These times with her Dad were among her fondest memories. She learned persistence, hard work and dedication from her Mom, who was a talented seamstress with a memorable laugh and a penchant for theatre.
The big turning point for Dolores came at 20 years old, when she was filling in as a coat check clerk at a dance hall in Kelowna. She was captured by the enchanting dark eyes of Boyce Carter, who waltzed in to become the love of her life. He had immigrated from England a few years earlier and was working on a land clearing crew in the region. It turned out that he, too, was a musician—a drummer.
After a courtship that consisted of Boyce’s frequent visits to Kelowna and her few ventures out to his work site, they were married August 1, 1951 and they moved north to settle in the Cariboo; first Quesnel and then in a Beaver Pass logging camp. She enjoyed the challenges of those early years, forging ahead without modern conveniences while raising a family. Later, she would often comment on the hardships but the joy of that period of her life.
Their first son, Bruce was born October 1952, and their daughter Beryl in 1955, both in Quesnel. Dolores was not faint of heart. When the opportunity arose, she didn’t hesitate to move to England to meet Boyce’s family. In 1957, two little girls, Dawn and Marcia, were born in Boyce’s hometown in the Cotswolds.
When they returned to Canada less than two years later, it was with four young children in tow. They settled in Johnson Subdivision in Quesnel, where, in 1962, their second son, Bill was born.
The music continued. She and Boyce joined other musicians to form a band that played at local venues. In those years, it was not only for the pleasure of it but also for the added income.
Boyce’s logging business grew and the family relocated to Wells, BC in 1963. In 1964, their sixth child, Carla was born. In those days, the town was isolated, so Dolores got involved in the community. She was the one who organized Christmas carolling, who played the organ at church, who became president of the PTA, who volunteered at the library, who hosted Boyce’s company parties. She even played piano for the local ballet classes, and on one occasion was so inspired by the dancing that she momentarily abandoned her place on the piano bench to join the class on the floor.
Their house in Wells was loud and full of both adult and kid-focused activities. She joined mail-order music and book clubs, giving the kids a chance to make choices of their own and open up their worlds. Dolores also took up oil painting and finished academic studies via correspondence. Mostly, she was tirelessly dedicated to her family. She always told the story of how she had agreed to live in Wells for five years, and as it happened, they were there for exactly five years and one day. Like the kids, she had fond memories of their time in Wells.
They moved back to Quesnel in 1968. With the kids in school, Dolores volunteered to play piano at theatre and choral groups. She encouraged her children to spread their wings and follow their dreams. The kids grew up, graduated and moved on, Boyce retired, and Boyce and Dolores moved to Salmon Arm in 1986. She volunteered to play piano and sing for residents of care homes in Salmon Arm and later in Kamloops, where they moved in 2008. Sadly, Boyce passed away in 2013, and the close family bonds Dolores had nurtured over the years were her mainstay.
She was always active in the lives of their grandchildren and she encouraged and supported them just as she did her children. She was the glue for the family, the reliable go-to resource, and family historian, the one who saved important mementos, who had stories to tell.
Dolores used to sing, “I Love Life.” She was stoic. She was strong, she stood on principal and never waivered. She was ever graceful and had a lively sense of humour (that ripened with age). In short, Dolores was loving and fun! Appreciated for (among many other admirable qualities) her kindness and consideration and unlimited capacity for love, she will always bemuch loved and dearly missed. The world is so much better for having known her.
Our family is ever so grateful for the love and kindness of the staff at Kamloops Overlander Residential Care Home, where she spent her last months.
May you rest in peace, Mom/Granny/Great Granny/Great-Great Granny.
In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Dolores Carter can be made to Spinal Cord Society by contacting Bill Carter: spinalcordquesnel@gmail.com
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
