Elana Gail (Carpenter) Karl
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.