JUDITH LEE CARROLL

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JUDITH LEE CARROLL

(nee RESCH)

January 27, 1949 – February 1, 2026

It’s with deep sorrow we share that Judi Carroll — the heart-light of our family — passed away peacefully in Winnipeg from cancer. It was a sudden and challenging illness that she met with strength and softness. Her husband Ed and daughters Kimberly and Kristy were at her side in those final moments, surrounding her with so much love.

Not only was Judi a deeply loved mother and wife, she was a cherished sister, friend, nurse, daughter and teacher—full of love, warmth, generosity, and fun.

She was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan to George and Katherine (née Righetti) Resch. Most of Judi's childhood was spent in a little bustling bungalow on Chelsea Avenue in Winnipeg — along with her FIVE brothers: Keith, George, Tom, Michael, and Rodney, who admired and cherished their spunky sister, as she did them. Judi adored her Mom and Dad and enjoyed a close relationship with them both in her adult years.

Judi followed in her Mom's footsteps to become a nurse. She first completed her LPN, then received a silver medal from the Brandon Mental Hospital upon attaining her Registered Psychiatric Nurse designation in 1969. And in 1975, she completed her RN at the Misericordia Hospital.

She would go on to work as a nurse for 50 years in Selkirk, Beausejour, Neepawa, Minnedosa, and Brandon at BGH, Central Park Lodge, Hillcrest and Fairview personal care homes. She was such a compassionate nurse, treating her residents with tenderness and respect. While at Fairview, she worked on the Alzheimer’s unit where she would dance and sing her heart out to get her residents smiling.

It was during her nursing training that Judi fell in love with Edwin Carroll from Selkirk, who was studying to be a lab and x-ray technologist. Ed and Judi got married on June 20, 1970, and were cuddle-bugs for 55 years. Judi was very loved by her mom-in-law Isabell Carroll and sister-in-law Anita, as well as brothers-in-law Wendell, George, and Ken.

Judi and Ed started their married lives in Beausejour and soon had their first daughter, Kimberly. A few years later, they moved to Minnedosa, and shortly after, Kristy burst onto the scene. Judi always spoke of her daughters as her pride and joy. She deeply admired Kristy's whimsical, caring, resourceful, and hilarious ways, as well as her work as a marriage and family therapist and in dog rescue. Judi steadfastly supported Kimberly's early journey in music and cheered her on through her time as a television host and in her current work for farmed animal protection and as a coach for changemakers. Kimberly, in turn, was so proud to always have her Mom enthusiastically take part in her personal growth courses and activism initiatives.

Known by friends of her kids as "Mama Jude", she was the kind of mom that made Kimberly and Kristy's friends envious — she was caring and pretty cool, and you could talk to her about pretty much anything. It's no surprise K&K regarded her as a best friend as well as their Mom. She even became chosen "Mum" for Paul 35 years ago when he desperately needed a mother in his life — they've been close ever since.



In the early 80s, they moved to Brandon, and in the late 80s, Ed's dream of building a house and living in the country led the family to Grand Valley Road, just outside of Brandon. Judi didn't envision herself as a country gal but eventually warmed to the idea. She and Ed frequently enjoyed happy hour on the front deck — watching the birds, catching some deer sightings, and feeding Judi's little squirrel and chickadee friends — their beloved dogs Abby and Jack always close by.

When Judi retired from nursing 10 years ago, she put her heart into teaching English to newcomers to Canada. She was one of Westman Immigrant Services' most dedicated volunteers for a decade, and her students — coming from places like Syria, Somalia, and Colombia — adored her warmth and playfulness.

Last year, Judi and Ed decided to downsize and move from Brandon to a condo community in East St. Paul (Winnipeg). They were just getting settled there when she began to feel unwell.

Though she was quick to smile, life wasn't always easy for Judi. She lived with chronic insomnia most of her life, and we'll never quite know how she managed all those decades on no more than three hours of quality sleep per night. Despite it all, she showed up — for her work, for her people, and always with a generous laugh — even for our groan-worthy jokes.

In addition to the family listed above, she'll be deeply missed by her best friends Chris Ann, Linda, and Tom; sons-in-law Matt Noble and Darren Chalus; sisters-in-law Kimberley, Roxann, Pamela, Ilona, Carol, and Jess; as well as her Resch and Carroll nephews and nieces.

Our Dearest Judi, we are devastated by your absence and will miss you always. May you rest in the love of all who carry your memory in our hearts.

Tributes: www.alternacremation.ca

As published in Brandon Sun, Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 14, 2026