CHARABIN: Celebration of Life Service for Ms. Laurel Charabin of North Battleford was held on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 @ 2 p.m. from Third Avenue United Church with Reverend Fred Tinio officiating. Interment took take place at the City of North Battleford cemetery. The family have requested that memorial donations in Laurel's memory be directed to the Battleford's Trade and Education Centre, 702-102nd St, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, S9A-1E3. The family has placed their trust with Trevor Watts of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium. Condolences for the family may be left at Left to cherish her memory are her loving family; brothers, Dale (Lynn) Charabin, Tim (Tracey) Charabin, and Glen (Iris) Charabin; nephews and nieces, Eric Charabin, Daniel Charabin, and Matthew Charabin, Joseph Charabin and Naomi Charabin, Ashley (Adam) Lesmeister and their children, Rhett, Ali, and Dane; Neil (Kristin) Charabin and their children, Max and Grady; Ryan (Lyndsay) Charabin and their son, Hudson; uncles, Roy Van and Sylvia (Stan) Sharpe; and aunties, Hazel Fuller and Betty (Victor) Iwanchuk. Laurel was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy (June 15, 2013), her father, Ken; aunties, Rita (Bill) Stewart, Irene Van, Nel (Bob) Bouey; uncle, Walter Charabin; and grandparents, Louise & George Van and Fred and Pauline Charabin. My Sister Laurel Patricia Charabin was born May 22 1951 to Ken and Dorothy Charabin, one year after her elder brother Dale. Several years later Glen and I joined the family. I found a Quote from Ryan Johnson, a Special Olympics athlete saying "A rewarding life is filled with challenge, do not pity me, give me a chance". This quote exemplifies our sisters' life; Laurel lived life to the fullest. Despite the fact that Laurel was born with Downs Syndrome our parents treated her with the same expectations as my brothers and I. This meant taking advantage of all opportunities to enhance her development from early childhood through to her adult life. While Laurel may have reached the usual milestones at different times than the rest of us, she constantly amazed her family and friends with her accomplishments. With encouragement and support from our parents, our family and our friends Laurel achieved many milestones in her lifetime that exceeded expectations of a special needs person born of that era. I will mention some of these accomplishments throughout my recollections. Laurel spent her early years growing up on the family farm in the East Hill District. Education was important to our parents, and with the closing of the East Hill School they made a difficult decision to move off the farm and into North Battleford. This allowed both Dale and Laurel to continue their education. In 1957, Laurel along with 4 other special needs children began attending class at Alexander Public School. This milestone was done with the support of the board of education and the parent association. As time progressed, the educational requirements for these students quickly outgrew the classroom at Alexander and a new school was built. In 1961 Centennial Park School opened and met the needs for more than 60 students in the area. Laurel attended until she graduated from Centennial Park School in 1969. And just like the rest of us this meant Laurel needed to move on to the next phase of her life- the work world. She began working at Battlefords Sheltered Work Shop, now known as Battlefords Trade and Education Center (BTEC). She was given several responsibilities such as; sewing, handmade crafted flowers, card making, taking her turn at making sure the lunch room was kept clean and tidy. Over the years she became an accomplished seamstress. This provided her the opportunity to work part time at a local upholstery shop. Another milestone Laurel achieved was 40 plus years of service; she reluctantly retired when her health forced her to. From then she started attending a day program offered under BTEC - The Vilda McDonald Center until last fall. Laurel still referred to as going to Vida as "Work". Laurel loved going to work. BTEC allowed Laurel's strong sense of independence, pride, acceptance and accomplishment in doing a job well done to develop. Laurel loved going to work because she considered the wonderful dedicated staff and her peers her family too. To also promote Laurel's independence she moved out of our family home once she started working. For several years she boarded at her Granny Van's house. When the time came that she had to move out of Granny's house, she moved in with Jerry, Ida and their son Kevin. Ida told me it was Luarel that chose them because they had both a dog and a baby. Laurel loved living with the Ryhorchuk family for over 18 years. In about 2001 her health forced her to move into a private care home North Battleford. This was a very difficult decision for the family but once again Laurel adapted and fit in so well that generally she couldn't wait to get back to see what was happening after a weekend away. Once again Laurels extended family grew to include Christine and Ester; the staff and the residents of Shelby Care Home. Laurel would stay in town and work during the week and come out the farm or lake for her weekends and holidays to spend time with her family. I could say that she came home to torture her little brothers, but it was probably the other way around. (Of course this was the fun loving torture of sibling rivalry). When Laurel was on holidays (somehow she always got the whole month of July off) she would spend it out at the family cabin at Pelican Point. She loved to go fishing, swim, read, sun tan and most importantly sleep in. (Just like all of us on holiday's). Laurel would also say that the best part of being at the lake was the close proximity of her family and friends. Auntie Sylvia, Uncle Stan and family on one side and the entire Willson clan on the other side, the Beaumonts across the way and all the others who always made special time for Laurel. She could always find somebody that was ready to have a game of Uno, Trouble, Solitaire or Rummicube. After a big meal at the lake Laurel also kept us all on task as she was usually the 1st one up to start the dish's and make the rest of us guilty. - Ok Maybe not Glen and I. Those of you that knew her well would know that the only time she ever got out of bed before noon was on the days she was heading to work, bowling or her sports events. Laurel was very active in sports in her early years. She was an avid cross-country and down-hill skier, an accomplished swimmer and bowler. With her attribute to be very competitive, she competed in many different sporting events that let her travel all over Canada. In 1969 she won Gold in Toronto at the very first Special Olympics in swimming. She later followed that that up in 1988 in New Brunswick with a silver in cross country skiing. Eat your heart out Clara Hughes! She repeated these medal performances many times over the years until she finally retired competing in 2002. Not only did she take great pride in her own sports she took up a passion in watching and following many other sports. Some of her favourites include our beloved green and white Saskatchewan Roughriders; the Edmonton Oilers; North Battlefords North Stars and of course watching Tiger Woods golf. Being a season ticket holder for many years Laurel attended the North Stars games with her brother Dale or in his absence one of Dale's friend would take her. With Laurel' s enteral optimist personality she was always confident that her team would win the next game even when it was in a losing streak, she would always be quick to defend her team. Laurel was a truly dedicated Oiler's fan and I will always remember how upset she was when Peter Poklington traded Wayne Gretzky - Lets just say it's a good thing that Peter was in another city when Laurel heard the news. Laurel was quite a crafty person. She enjoyed painting and colouring and in1974 she entered a Christmas card competition sponsored by National Association for Retarded Children. Her Christmas card poster won. It was used on the Christmas Cards and sold as a fundraiser throughout Canada that year. It was also selected by the Toronto Dominion Bank that year as their Christmas poster display. She sewed several items including our personalized Christmas stockings (and as the family expanded she was excited to make another stocking). She also crocheted many, many afghans. All her nieces and nephews and the babies of close family friends received a baby blanket made by Laurel. Some of these blankies are still their absolute favourite blankies.right Eric? (I think Eric actually just got rid of his once he started dating Jadie). Laurel's smile was so powerful it would be hard not to smile back; her innocence to be so easily excited was so rewarding. She had the ability to almost squeeze the life out of you; an example of that was when she received a Signed Oilers Jersey from her cousin Paul. Although her life may have had many challenges - most important she got a chance to live it to the fullest and she excelled! Laurel touched our lives in so many positive ways and she also taught us many valuable lessons. I know if you ever met Laurel there is special spot where her smile will remain with you forever. Having her as part of our family was truly a blessing.
