Carol Kathleen (Badgley) Belanger, Jan '49 - Apr '06

Today is my mom’s birthday. She would have been 61 years old today but died April 4th 2006.

She died young and has now missed so much. She missed me taking yoga training and working solely for myself as well as running my first half marathon. She missed the marriage to my amazing husband... a man she loved before she really met because he was such a good friend to me. She missed the birth of her granddaughter.... who she would have loved and spoiled like no other.

My mom was more of a best friend than a mom. She was so young at heart and laughed a lot. She was one of eight siblings and the only girl and her brothers fondly nicknamed her ‘kakleberry’ because of her laugh... a laugh which I have most likely inherited as I’ve inherited her love of laughter as well as many, many other traits. She was always the life of the party. Any party... even my sleepovers as a kid.

My mom always wanted her own home but my dad was against it. It was the only big purchase she made after my dad died and when she died I had a service for her in her own backyard. Family stayed for the service, friends came and went all afternoon and all discussed fond memories of her life.

Another thing she always wanted was a pet. She loved all furry creatures and ‘acquired’ two cats when she bought her house. They didn’t stick around long after she was gone. I guess they knew things would never be the same again.

Moms may not be perfect. They might not even seem to be trying their best sometimes but I don’t know of one that wouldn’t leave a hole in a child’s heart if she was missing.

I love you mom.
Kimmy.