Hilary Mosher Carre

Hilary Mosher Carre was born on August 10, 1924 in Westbank, BC, youngest child of  Reginald and Laura Carre and brother to Betty. Growing up in the Okanagan involved many adventures with friends. Attempting to deep sea dive in the Okanagan Lake using a bucket and a bicycle pump with pieces of railroad tie to weigh their feet down, and riding their single speed bicycles to Vancouver, through the Fraser Canyon, camping as they went, are two such adventures. Having been part of a gymnastics team during the beginning of World War 2, Hilary was known in his later years to impulsively spring into a back flip, which would amaze his 10 grandchildren (and anyone else nearby). While working towards a science degree at UBC, Hilary was called back to Westbank because of his ailing father. He later returned to complete his studies majoring in chemistry and physics, and then began a career as an analytical chemist with Shell Canada.

            Joan and Hilary met in 1957, and in 1959 they were married. Settling into their new home in Burnaby, Diane and Arlene were born soon after. Hilary was known to take the family on many adventures, exploring the world around them - boating, camping, biking, traveling. When the girls hit their teen years, Hilary began to realize his need for the LORD and turned back to the childhood faith he had abandoned during his university years. As Hilary later described it, “At the moment a person’s attitude towards Christ changes from negative to positive, a spark of light begins to glimmer in the darkness of his soul.” The LORD was gracious to Hilary, as over the next few years his entire family followed, one by one putting their faith in Jesus. The family was transformed, and hospitality became the norm in the Carre home. Through the years that followed, as the girls grew up and moved away, still Joan and Hilary’s home was filled with young people, as they welcomed close to 50 boarders to their home over the course of 40 years.

            Following a stroke in 2004, Hilary’s health began to decline, until in 2017 the decision was made to leave their home of 56 years, and “retire” to Creston (Hilary was 93 years old). Hilary’s final 6 years of life were filled with the busyness of family all around him, including his 11 great grandchildren. Though his words were few, they were meaningful – words like, “Here we are,” “I like this place,” and, most frequently spoken to everyone, the phrase he carried right into his final days, “I love you…”

The Graveside Service for family and friends is to be held August 29, 2023 at the Westbank Cemetery in Kelowna, with coffee, snacks and visiting to follow at the Westbank Bible Chapel 2412 Apollo Road, West Kelowna, B.C.

A Celebration of Life is to be held on September 30, 2023 at 2:00pm at the Creston Baptist Church. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Creston Caregivers through Grace Christian Fellowship, 2416 Cedar St, Creston BC V0B 1G5. E-transfer: GraceBooks@shaw.ca. Please include a note "for the nurses" with your donation.

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