Charles "Carman" Williston

Charles “Carman” Williston

April 25th, 2021

The family of Carman Williston announces his passing, which occurred peacefully on April 25th, 2021 at Losier Hall in Miramichi, NB.

Carman was born 3 June 1929 in Bay Side, Northumberland County, NB. He joined the RCAF in 1948 and was posted to Camp Borden then Goose Bay where he met and married Renee Van-Marsenille in 1952. They started a family there, then dutifully moved to various remote bases in Cold Lake, Alberta; Gypsumville, Manitoba; St. Margarets, New Brunswick; Ottawa, Ontario and Newport Corners, Nova Scotia, then returned to his home base of Chatham, New Brunswick. Along the way, Renee passed, but he was lucky enough to find Nellie, who was willing to accept him and his three growing children into her and Wendy’s life. The result produced Sandra. It was the best decision made and their marriage lasted until 2021, 56 years.

By the time Carman retired in 1974, they had dropped children one by one in each of the places they had lived so they could each start their own journeys. This allowed Carman to pursue his own interests and hobbies. There was lots of time to travel, go camping, and spend numerous hours and days searching cemeteries to discover information for his passion for genealogy, which he then printed and distributed. He became the founding president of the Miramichi branch of the New Brunswick Genealogical Society. His next passion was making fiddles and self-teaching to play, which he did very well. He joined the Miramichi Fiddlers group as both he and Nell loved music, which led to providing entertainment one year on Canada Day at Parliament Hill. Quite the accomplishment for a small town fiddling group! Carman’s interests and hobbies were varied, but he was passionate about his accomplishments, from building train modules, or flying to cities all over the cyber world so he could land his plane on his flight simulator!

Right beside him was Nellie, his wife, his love for the rest of his days, the woman he couldn’t live without!

Carman had a strong personality and the Williston family stubborn streak, but he loved his family. To quote him:  “We all come into this world knowing nothing but with the help of genetics which are passed on to us by our also struggling forefathers, we acquire some knowledge and a strategy for living and hopefully attaining some of our ambitions. All too soon we arrive at this point in life when we commence thinking about how on earth to prepare for our demise. It all seems easy in the beginning, we simply leave everything to those remaining, but as one contemplates some of their holdings individually, and wonder who, how and if they will be used or just disposed of, a little sadness creeps in. I just hope you will find something that strikes a note within you to remind you we did it all out of love.”

Carman is survived by his daughter, Lynn (Roger) Trueman of Kingston, ON; son, Steven (Colleen-d) of Bridgewater; daughter, Wendy (Kim/Lex) Williston of Nanaimo, BC;  daughter, Sandra Williston of Miramichi; his grandchildren:  Dale (Amanda) Trueman, Lisa (Dean) Smith, Carla Williston, Johnathon Williston, Beverly Dawn Redden, Kyle (Fulvia) Williston, Victoria (Shelly) Williston, Sara Williston, Melody (Chris) Barta, and Levon (Destiny) Barta; his great-grandchildren:  MacKenzie Trueman, Peighton Trueman, Autumn Trueman, Hudson Withers, Nolan Withers, Jake Smith, Dilan Redden and Jared Redden; and his siblings:  Beryl (Vince) Sobey of Ignace, NS, Betty (Arnold) MacEwan of Pugwash, NS, Neil Williston of St. Catherines, ON, Billy (Terry Jardine) Williston of Miramichi, NB, Sue (Raymond) Roy of Saint John, NB, and Gary (Margaret) Williston of Moncton, NB.

He is predeceased by his parents, Alex and Helen (Smith) Williston; wife Nellie (Waye) Williston; his son, Mark (Wanda) Williston; infant grandsons:  Jeremy and Joshua; brother, Karl (Lillian) Williston; brother, Donny (Mary Ellen) Williston; sister, Eleanor (Jerry) Jamieson; sister, Rosemary (David) Ludlow

A celebration of life for Carman will be held later when family members from out of province can attend. The date and time will be announced.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

Arrangements are entrusted to Adams Funeral Home Ltd., 140 King St., Miramichi, telephone (506) 773-3492, or messages of condolence may be sent online to www.adamsfh.ca

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