Alma Carrari (Bessuille) was born on March 1, 1917 in Vancouver. She was the fourth daughter born to an immigrant Italian family. She grew up at a time when life was hard but there was a lot of love and families supported each other. She attended school at Carlton School in Vancouver, one of the oldest schools remaining. She had to quit school at the age of 15 to go to work and help out the family. She often said how sorry she was that she did not have the opportunity to go further in her education. She thought that she would have liked to have been involved in the medical field (perhaps as a pharmacist or something similar as she had some difficulty doing the nursing when someone else was ill).

Instead of pursuing her education she started working in a dry cleaning plant where her elder sister worked. There she met and fell in love with the son of the owner. On July 30, 1938 she married Alex. They had their ups and downs in the marriage as all do but they managed to bring into the world four fantastic children. They had their first child, Paul, near the start of the 2nd World War. Then Alex went overseas to serve and she and Paul initially moved in with her parents. She continued to work in the family business to help support the family. When her brother-in-law Harry also joined the army she then moved in with her elder sister Elda and that worked well for all. Elda stayed home and cared for her young daughter Marlene and Paul while Alma continued to go out to work and contributed to the expenses.

When Alex returned from overseas the rest of the family came along, first Ray, then John and finally Diane. She continued to work in the family laundry off and on during the family’s growing years. Once Alex sold the dry cleaning business she started to work part time at Woodward’s department store in the staff cafeteria. When Diane and David built their home in Richmond it was designed with a 2 bedroom suite for Alex and Alma. They then sold their home and moved into the suite. This gave them the opportunity to travel without the worry of leaving an empty house. When child care was needed they filled in and we were very grateful that they were there for us.

Alma loved to travel and enjoyed time with family and friends. She volunteered at the Sisters of Atonement making sandwiches in the downtown area for the homeless. She always supplied baking for church sales and donated time and baking for the many activities at the church. She hosted many large family dinners and was a great cook. She loved to read and knit and enjoyed playing scrabble and doing crossword puzzles right up to the end.

Throughout her life my mother has maintained a remarkable attitude. She has been loved by her many, many friends and family members. She always has had a sweet disposition and was always interested in other people. I believe that her life was extended to almost 100 years so that she could have a positive impact on others. We know that she has now moved on to a gentler place where she no longer has to suffer and she can be with my father, her family and friends who have passed on ahead and with God our Father.