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Elana Gail (Carpenter) Karl
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April 26, 1955 ~ June 4, 2013 |
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June 9, 2013 |
 Elana Gail Karl (Carpenter), 58, beloved wife,
mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin,
grandmother and loyal friend to so many,
peacefully slipped away from her loved ones on
June 4, 2013.
She faced her bout with terminal cancer in a
manner that left even those who knew her best
stunned by her constant courage and humor.
Funeral Services were held Saturday, June 8, at
the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home in Bonners Ferry,
interment followed in Grandview Cemetery.
She was born in Lewiston, Idaho, on April 26,
1955. Her family moved to the Moyie Springs area
in 1958, and Elana graduated from Bonners Ferry
High School in 1974. Many friends from her
school days remember her infectious giggle and
sweet nature, and it is doubtful she ever
considered looking down on anyone who did not
drastically deserve it, like the bullies she
disliked.
Two years after she finished high school she
moved to Spokane, where she made her home for 35
years.
She enjoyed working and was employed as a
bookkeeper, hairdresser and near lastly as a
shift supervisor at the UGM Crisis Shelter for
Women and Children.
Her mind was as sharp with numbers and letters
as it was with a quick witted yarn. Her only
child, Sean, was born in 1975 and was the light
of her life. They had a remarkable relationship.
One didn't have to speak to the other, they just
knew.
Sean married his best friend, Heidi, and their
two young sons; four year old Caleb and two year
old Evan, were the shining stars of their proud
Grandma's life. Watching them play was a joy to
her heart. It also occasionally brought a tear
to her eye, realizing she would not get to watch
them grow into young men.
At the age of 39 Elana devoted her life to Jesus
Christ by trusting in Him as her Savior. She was
a member of the Hickory Missionary Baptist
Church in Sandpoint.
Many things effected how she dealt with this
ordeal with cancer, her faith being one of them.
Elana did not allow her beliefs to dull her
appreciation of a good joke, and one of her
favorite things was a simple drive in the
country.
Being narrow minded would never have occurred to
her, she just appreciated a good laugh and her
giggle, once started, was often impossible to
stop. If ever a laugh was infectious, it was
hers.
Honesty demands that a little tale from Elana's
past be shared at this time. She had two very
good friends in Spokane, a mom and daughter, and
the three of them spent hours together finding
amusement in countless ways.
Sadly, the mom died.
Elana and her friend sat together at the
funeral, and unfortunately some untimely remark
by the speaker set off a small attack of giggles
in the twosome. The attack grew uncontrollable,
much to the mortification of most of the crowd.
The best thing about it was, the friend and mom
in the casket would have been giggling right
along with them, and undoubtedly had a wide grin
on her face as she traveled to her next world.
Any room Elana entered brightened up
considerably. Even grumps who liked nobody else
liked her.
Elana and her husband of 16 years, Richard Karl,
moved back to Moyie Springs in 2011, where she
worked at the Restorium until her health forced
her stay at home. Though suffering every day,
she always had a smile and a joke for visitors,
and was pleased to finally be back where her
heart had remained, good old Moyie.
Elana loved her animals, both wild and domestic,
especially sweet Annie, who stayed by her side
non stop. She had a beautiful view of the woods
from her bed and delighted in watching the deer,
birds and other animals graze and pass by.
Elana is survived by her loving husband Richard,
who was diligently by her side, holding her
hands, during the bad times and the good; mother
Lenora Carpenter of Bonners Ferry; brothers, Ken
(Joy) of Moyie Springs, Steve (Laurie) of
Colbert, Washington, and Nathan (Sylvia Jo) of
Spokane; son Sean Nelson (Heidi) of Spokane; two
grandsons; two step-grandchildren, Josh and
Alyson Nelson; five nieces; four nephews;
friends; and relatives by the dozen, both old
and new, all now sharing the pain of this
untimely loss of such a special human being.
Elana was preceded in death by father Homer
(Shorty) Carpenter.
Family and friends are invited to sign Elana's
book at
www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. |
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