In the last two weeks the Town of Erin has lost two extraordinary citizens.
Doug Follett, 93, died on Oct. 21, and Carol Mifsud, 53, passed away exactly one week later.
Both left an indelible mark on the town and those fortunate enough to have known them.
Follet, an electrical engineer by trade, was perhaps best known by many in Erin for serving two terms on village council in the early 90s. In recent years he has been a fixture at Town of Erin council meetings, as one of a handful of passionate town residents who attend nearly every session.
It was in the council chamber south of Hillsburgh that I first met Doug over 11 years ago. From day one he was very complimentary of my work as a journalist, which was extremely reassuring for an inexperienced reporter.
His infectious smile, astounding memory and encyclopedic knowledge of all things Erin quickly made him a go-to source for background information on anything – or anyone – in the town.
He was a voice of reason during the chaos and in-fighting among municipal councillors and staff in recent years and his influence will be sorely missed.
Like many in Erin, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his wife Pauline, his four children, his grandkids, great grandkids and the rest of his family and friends.
Carol Mifsud died last week after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. She quit working as a registered nurse several years ago to concentrate on her health and her family. Her selflessness was swayed neither by her diagnosis nor the 2011 revelation that her cancer was terminal.
Carol cycled close to 170km in two days for the 2014 Ride to Conquer Cancer. The following year, she again took part and was even asked to speak during the event’s opening ceremony.
Following an interview about her participation, which raised thousands of dollars for cancer research, Carol told a mutual friend that I must not have found her story interesting because I was so reserved. The truth is, I was in awe. Hers is one of the best stories I have had the fortune to relay.
Carol’s courage and determination in the face of a terminal illness was nothing short of astonishing.
“You can’t just sit back and do nothing,” she told me in 2014. “You have to make a choice to be happy. You can either be better or bitter – I try to be better.”
Carol was an inspiration to all those who knew her, specifically her friends and family (including her husband Battista, three children, three step children and four grandkids).
Of course the deaths of Doug and Carol are devastating to those close to them, but there’s also a wider sense of profound loss when such pillars of the community are taken from us.
Perhaps the best tribute is to always heed their invaluable advice, including the simple yet powerful words Carol once shared with me.
“Try to do something nice every day,” she said. “There’s not enough of that in the world.”
Lest we forget
This week, on pages 23 to 30, we present our annual Remembrance Day feature.
The Advertiser strives each year to present an informative, engaging section leading up to Nov. 11, with the goal of paying tribute to the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This year, a couple of our articles focus on local youths who are helping to ensure those sacrifices are not forgotten.
They’re inspiring stories and an important reminder that Canadian youths – contrary to the opinions expressed by a columnist on page 11 – are not “unpatriotic” and self absorbed. In fact, quite the opposite is true.
Veterans, and indeed all Canadians, can take solace in knowing that our young people, particularly those in Wellington County, will not break faith with those who have died. They will not forget.
