GEMER Carole

Posted: June 7th, 2016

1160_K7zcHCgW_Gemer, C - Newspaper Photo

GEMER

CAROLE ANN GEMER (nee Hadford), beloved wife of George Gemer, passed away at the Foothills Health Centre, on Thursday, June 2nd, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 71 years.

Carole was an amazing lady who touched the lives of so many. Affectionately known as “Mother Goose”, she was a mom to many, always eager to help out, take care of others and “get the job done”.

She was a track and field athlete in her youth, winning a silver medal at the National Championships. She was named the Kinsmen Athlete of the Year in 1964. Her coach, George, became her husband and she embarked on a lengthy career as a team manager for the University of Lethbridge team and the National track and field team. She guided multiple teams to the Pan-American Games, the Commonwealth Games, the World Student Games and the World Championships. She was selected to escort the teams to two Olympic Games – Barcelona in 1992 and Sydney in 2000.

She was a pioneer for sport in Lethbridge, serving on countless organizing committees for local and international games, including the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. She was also a founding member of the West Wind Gymnastics Club. In 1988, she was inducted into the Lethbridge Sport Hall of Fame. She was also a Pronghorn Sports of Hall of Fame inductee in 2000 and a Golden Jubilee Medal recipient in 2002.

Even though she was born in Lethbridge and has Swedish and English ancestry, she became a valued member of the local Hungarian Cultural Society, serving as President for over a decade. She was more recently a Board Member for the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association and was eagerly anticipating the opening of their new building.

Carole had numerous accomplishments but more importantly was a woman who so generously gave her time and energy wherever she could. Her family would often say she worked full time but never got paid. She loved to be busy and she was always there when you needed her. She wore a warm, welcoming smile and had a sunny way about her. She was loved and respected by so many and has her place in all our hearts.

Carole is survived by her husband, George, daughters Robin Gemer (Allen LeBlanc) and Tara Gemer-Lowe (Mark Lowe), brother, Eugene (Marilyn) Hadford, granddaughter, Sydney Gardner, and grandsons, Jackson and Jasper Lowe. Carole was predeceased by her parents, Cecil and Louella Hadford.

At Carole’s request, no funeral service is planned. A private family Interment will be held at the Mountain View Cemetery.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

9 Condolences for “GEMER Carole”

  1. Jennifer Willms Kennedy says:

    Carol, you were beautiful inside and out. It was a privilege to be on the track team with you and Coach. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

  2. Faranak & Juergen says:

    Dear family Gemer,

    Please accept our deepest condolence for loss of your best friend, long time partner and beloved mother.

    “What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply, becomes a part of us” Helen Keller

    Remembering Carol’s wonderful personality will remain in our hearts.

    May love and care of your families and friends comfort your hearts during this time of grief.

  3. Ryan McFarland says:

    For many, it was just a flicker of our lives that we were graced with receiving your support, guidance and wisdom. But in this short time, it was more than the pursuit of athletic achievements. We had a “Mother Goose” and “Coach” to help with so much more and to be part of what we were to become or can become. Carole shared herself with so many and heart’s are heavy today.

  4. Troy Whalen says:

    I will never forget the times Carole would sit with me after practices, and listen to whatever I had on my mind. 20 years later, when our paths would occassionally cross, she would still greet me with a warm and welcoming smile. My memories of her are fond, and the impression she left on my life is nothing but positive. My heart goes out to you Coach, and to your family.

  5. Carveor Triggs says:

    My most lasting memories (and learnings), while attending University of Lethbridge, are from being part of the Track and Field Family lead by Carol and George Gemer. And it is beyond the track training that Carol and George worked their true magic of teachings and preparation for life.

    This magic is most revealed by Carol Gemer, always respectably: Mother Goose. Her patience and practical nature combined, allowed me to catch glimpses of how to conduct myself, how to approach challenges, and give appreciation to results.

    I always was welcomed, with equal consideration, from Robin and Tara, completing the family atmosphere.

    George, Robin, and Tara,
    Please know that Carol is a very bright light of learning and life for me, her smile, laughter and wisdom always present.

  6. Keith Driver says:

    To George and family my sincere condolences at the passing of Carol. While I never knew Carol as well as many other people, but I do remember her and George during my brief stay in Lethbridge during the early 60”s. She made an impression on me then and I have fondly thought of both George and Carol over the years. Both were reminded to me by a mutual friend just recently. My wishes and prayers to George and his family.

  7. Grant Nelson says:

    I am shocked to learn of Carol’s passing. I was a runner for George ‘s U of L team in the 1980’s. Carol was always present at events and a wonderful person. I have been away from Lethbridge many years. Carol and George together made my world a better place; that’s a tribute few people can offer.

  8. Louis Simi says:

    My thoughts are with you on the passing of Carol. I was a teammate of Grants’ in the 1980s’ and George and I share the same birthday of March 9. Thank you both for making my time memorable at U of L when I was there.

  9. Jamie Bagu says:

    So I am up late in 2020 and in the middle of all this Corona nonsense. I have been looking up Hungarian foods on the internet and wishing my grandmother was still around and it made me think of George and his family. I am saddened to learn Carole has past, as she was just a sweet soul. I spent many hours in my youth practicing shotput and discuss, it seems so long ago. George was sometimes hard on us, because maybe we were too soft and spoiled in our wonderful 80’s Canada. Carole always had words of encouragement and a great light about her that inhabits all true mothers of this world. I learned much from the Gemer’s about physical endurance and I carried that with me on many patrol hikes for the forest service over the years. When I almost froze to death on a mountain top in 1996, I strangely thought of George in his prison camp and thought to myself, I can do this, no problem, it will only last hours not years. With all this Covid nonsense going on now, I hope the Gemer’s are all well and safe and I send a message of condolence and encouragement from the Bagu family. A memory from the past… When I was 14 George told me I threw a shotput like a little teddy bear. That somewhat annoyed me, as 14 year old’s are easily annoyed. Carole put her arm around my shoulder after practice and informed me all girls love teddy bears. I smiled and went home happy. That was just the kind of thing Carole did for everyone. I raise a palinka and remember a really classy lady with a big heart…Stay safe everyone…One last thing…in grade 3 Jason L and my brother got in an argument over who would marry Tara…isn’t that great? I bet she didn’t know her first fist fight of jealousy was in 1978. It’s ok they made up two days later and agreed to share her…I am still cracking up all these years later…

Leave a Condolence for Keith Driver