Carrie Rickard's Obituary
Carrie Lynn (Thompson) Rickard, 51, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2017 surrounded by her family. After being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in January, Carrie not once complained about her treatments. Even on her worst days, she always knew that tomorrow would be better and still managed to flash her famous smile. After many years working at Putnam Investments in Boston, where she had so many friends, Carrie and her family decided to make a change and move to Charlotte, NC. Carrie then focused her life on her true passion, being a mother to her pride and joy, Torrey and Lily. Carrie was actively involved in their lives, especially in their school, Torrence Creek Elementary. There was no job she wouldn’t do, no volunteer sign up she could refuse. Room mom, lunch helper, PTO president, committee head, and finally found the perfect spot as a Teacher Assistant, where she was able to mother a classroom of young students with the same love she showered on her own children, nieces and nephews.
Carrie never met a stranger and was always ready to help a friend in need, and what good friends she had. Throughout her journey this year, her family received so much support and love from her friends both near and far and we were lucky to meet such a loving group of people who seem to love her as much as we all do.
Along with her beautiful daughters, Torrey (15) and Lily (13), Carrie leaves her dedicated husband, Steven Rickard, of Huntersville. Also mourning her passing is her loving father, Russell Thompson, of CT, with whom Carrie spoke each and every day. Her siblings, Russell and Theresa Thompson and Amy Balda, all of CT, and Paul & Kristin Thompson, of Mooresville, NC. Carrie was the favorite Auntie to Caroline, Madeleine and John Thompson, Eric Menchel, Sarah and Robert Balda and Annie, Mary & Andrew Thompson. She is also survived by aunts and uncles Karen & Richard Torrey Sondra & Robert Gourdeau, cousins and extended family who will lovingly remember her. We know she was greeted in heaven with open arms by her late mother, Gail Thompson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Levine Cancer Center, particularly the social workers and palliative care team who made the past few weeks just a little bit more bearable.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Carrie’s memory to Torrence Creek Elementary PTA.
The funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday, August 12 in the chapel of James Funeral Home with burial following at Northlake Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm Friday at James Funeral Home. The family requests all in attendance to the visitation and funeral wear blue, her favorite color.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family. www.jamesfuneralhomeLKN.com
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