Longtime Sunshine Coast newspaperwoman and author Carol Gardarsson died May 11 after a two-year battle with cancer. Gardarsson, who was 66, leaves a legacy of hard work and optimism.
She and husband Gardar first came to the Sunshine Coast in the late 1980s. Many will remember her as a salesperson extraordinaire for Coast Reporter and publisher of The Local. However, during her work career she worked for many other regional newspapers including the now defunct Sunshine Coast Press, Coast News and Coast Independent. Gardarsson was well known for both her organizational and customer service skills. Never one to take success for granted, she started each and every day with a list of people to call. Her cheerful outlook and attention to detail endeared her to most everyone she knew.
Gardarsson started her newspaper career in Manitoba as a reporter. In addition to coastal papers, over the years she worked for publications in Kamloops, Metro Vancouver and Alberta. Her writing aptitude never deserted her. Right up to a few weeks before her death, she was still copy-editing Facebook grammar. Sloppy spelling never failed to annoy her, about the only thing that ever did.
After retiring from the newspaper business, Gardarsson went on to write several novels drawing on her husband’s Icelandic heritage. The books were so popular with Manitoba readers of the same background that the original planned trilogy swelled by two. The books also resonated with Iceland citizens; a trip there a few years ago netted Gardarsson a book deal in the country. So far one book has been translated with plans for the others to be released as time allows. Initial sales were brisk.
Gardarsson faced a number of serious health challenges over the past several years, including a previous bout with skin cancer.
“Carol was a warrior. She’s the strongest person I ever knew. And she always had a smile on her face,” Gardar said.
Three daughters and five grandchildren also survive Gardarsson.
There will be a Celebration of Life and Potluck at Dougall Park in Gibsons on Sunday, May 21, beginning at noon.
