Carolyn Seward Hawkins

March 4, 1957 - May 26, 2019
Carolyn Seward Hawkins, age 62, passed away peacefully - her battle with cancer ended and having received her ultimate healing from God - May 26, 2019. She was born March 4, 1957 in Vanguard Saskatchewan, #6 of 7 children to Clarence and Geraldine Seward. After the 4 oldest children moved out, Clarence and Geraldine and the remaining 3 children moved to Kelowna BC in 1969. Carolyn met Bert Hawkins at Okanagan Bible College in Kelowna and they married May 19, 1979 in Trail BC.
They proceeded to build their life together in Trail, before eventually settling in Fruitvale, where they raised their 2 children, Kyle and Leanne. Carolyn was always active in the church, playing piano and leading worship, first at the Trail Alliance Church, then at Fruitvale Christian Fellowship, and finally at Gateway Christian Life Centre.
Carolyn started work at Evergreen Sports and Physical Therapy September 2015 and loved working there. The therapists and her co-workers made her excited to go to work every day and being involved in the community gave her job satisfaction. She is especially grateful for Trina Martin and the deep friendship they developed on the job that extended far outside the workplace.
Family meant everything to Carolyn. Keeping the family together was her mission. Whenever possible, she would visit her parents in Kelowna, siblings in Saskatchewan, or nieces and nephews in Lethbridge. When the kids were young, she would pack the trailer and head to Kokanee Creek provincial park for the summers. After the kids were grown, her favourite summer activity was the "Sisters Trips" to Red Deer AB for the Gospel Quartet convention every July with Verna, Elaine, and Joanne. The sisters would sing and dance, worship and laugh, sharing their love of music and God. The Collingsworth Family had a special place in her heart, and she built great friendships with many other groups that performed yearly at the festival.
Heaven will be a joyous reunion for Carolyn. Her parents are already there, along with her niece Renae and sister-in-law Joy.
Celebrating Carolyn on earth are her spouse Bert, son Kyle Hawkins (Athena), daughter Leanne Mulder (Jason), and granddaughters Mila, Nora, and Aylinia.
Carolyn leaves behind a massive family including 3 sisters, 3 brothers, 10 nephews, 8 nieces, and countless in-laws, out-laws, great-nephews and great-nieces. All have a special place in her heart and she would keep in touch via Facebook when she couldn't make it on trips to visit them all. Carolyn would like to let you know that her work here is done. Like she always said, quoting Psalms 23, "Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death..." She received the call, the sort of offer you can't refuse - eternity with her Jesus and Lord, whom she loved and followed her whole life. The other side of the valley has opened to her. This new job comes with a huge sign-on bonus, the position of music director, and a joyous reunion with family and friends who got there first. Job security is eternal.
Her new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing, dancing, playing piano, and reading to her heart's content. Music, laughter and love are guaranteed. Food is delicious, loaded with gluten, and you never gain a pound.
Kyle and Leanne would like to thank Columbia View Lodge for the incredible care their mother received. The care, professionalism, and kindness shown during her four months of palliative care went above and beyond any expectations they could have wanted for their beloved mother. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the KBRH Health Foundation directed to Columbia View Lodge.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Gateway Christian Life Centre, in Trail on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 2 pm. Sarah Vass of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
 Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services