Tributes for Carol

I am really sad and sorry Carol is no longer with us. I have a few PMs from her which I intend to keep. I always thought of her as a real stand out member on Gransnet, she was as someone else mentioned very wise and had clearly lived a varied and interesting life. A real maverick in her physical activities, can't imagine there would be too many ladies of 73 clambering about in the mountains and snorkeling around coral reefs, she was certainly no one dimensional granny. I think it's a great testament to her that she was so loved and involved with her many grandchildren who clearly thought the world of her and I am sure she will continue to be an inspiration to them and her character and spirit will live on in them.

I am sorry I never met her she was a lady who wasn't afraid to stand for up for what she believed, I didn't always agree with her stance on every thing but then agreeing with anyone all of the time would be a rare thing indeed.

I know Carol didn't believe in an afterlife, but if there is such a place I'm sure she will be somewhere good. RIP

Carol was brave, adventurous and funny. I would like that said of me when the time came.

"Life is either a daring adventure - or nothing"

Truly a free spirit, now flying free.

Another one who logged on as soon as I arrived home to see what, if any news about Carol. I met Carol on line, a first for me to develop a cyber friendship via gransnet, and something I will always treasure. I loved her posts, I found her to be wise, thoughtful and generous of heart and spirit. Feisty, determined, interested in everything that life has to offer, and always interested in others. it's clear from the posts here, that Carol's love of, and pride in her family was at her heart. She was an independent woman, inspirational to so many of us. Like Carol, I love long, solitary walks in wild and beautiful countryside. I often imagined her, striding along her mountain paths, enjoying her freedom, the beauty around her, and with her thoughts and her heart with her much loved children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. RIP Carol and thank you for sharing your life with us

I have just got in and logged on to read the sad news about Carol (Greatnan)

I feel shocked and very sad for Carol and her family and friends, and the special friends she had on Gransnet who worked so tirelessly in an effort to find her.

Carol was a remarkable woman who had such an interesting life. She will be very much missed.

Such an amazing lady sending sympathy to Carols family I just don't know what else to say as I am so upset about what has happened,we had so so many chats about her time living & working on The Wirral and her school teaching days here she will be greatly missed.

just home and logged on to read such sad news.

What I wanted to say might just be on the right thread now.

I read this sad news when I got back in a about 4pm and I had posted a version of this somewhere on FB or GN I am losing the plot now.

"So sorry to hear this, but in the end it is probably no longer any real surprise to us.

I too will say thank goodness for Carol's sake she was out doing what she loved. Carol would not have been a person who would have given in gracefully to having to be "careful now she is getting older".

We will miss her sense of humour and wisdom very much.

Don't anyone take this the wrong way, I can only put it clumsily. But let's take some comfort after reading a post by daughter Fiona which suggested that it appeared most likely that Carol "was killed instantly from a fall whilst walking."

The alternatives do not bear thinking about.

I am so glad she was found before the snows came. This, for the sake of her family had been a concern of mine."

RIP Carol Greatnan indeed.

Rest in Peace Carol. Heartfelt sympathy to Carol's family in such difficult circumstances. She was one in a million and will be missed by many.

I think she might approve of these sentiments:

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on

Sad, sad, so sad,we seemed to clash but our pm's were just that,ours.
My sincere condolences to the family, and similar to her real life friends who were lucky to have been able to spend time with her.

I know I have already written something, but I just wanted to add a few words. It is something that we put on our sons gravestone and I just think it feels right to put it here. " If love provided life, you never would have died " For Carol.

Such truly sad news, Rest in Peace Carol.

My condolences to Carol's family. May they find comfort in the fact that their Grandmother/Greatgrandmother was one to be proud of, who had many friends and loved her family dearly.

so sorry to hear this news ..thinking of family and friends

Sadly our worst fears realised. I am just so glad that it would seem things were not protracted for her. Rest peacefully now Carol wherever you are.x x

When Carol & I found we were both in Nelson, NZ, in March, we arranged to meet for lunch. I'd never met anyone via the internet before & we joked about whether we really were the people we said we were. But Carol was so much more than I could ever have imagined, even from her posts, & we didn't stop talking about every topic under the sun and especially about her family & her future hopes for life in NZ. Her life story was inspiring; her current story amazing. I came away determined never to be put off saying what I believed or trying new things. She was of course affected by things & people but she never let anything get her down for long & bounced back with renewed vigour. Such a short meeting; such a big impression. My lasting memory is seeing her walk away side-by-side with Fiona, a daughter she was so proud of. Goodbye Carol x

I am very sad to hear the news. Although we often had different views Carol was also supportive. Goodbye Greatnan you will be remembered for your great passion for adventure.

In the short time I have known Carol, she has become so much a part of my life. Always hospitable, she welcomed me to her Alpine apartment and took great pride in showing me 'her' mountains, lakes, waterfalls and pretty villages. She enjoyed driving round New Zealand just as I have and we shared many political and (non)religious views. We were almost the same age and I cannot believe that she has gone before me. My thoughts go out to her daughters, grandchildren and adored great-grandchildren. She was so looking forward to the birth of Heather's new baby in the spring. Carol, you enriched the lives of those who knew you. The world is a poorer place without you.

I know that Carol was much loved and respected. My condolences RIP Carol

I only knew Carol (Greatnan) from Gransnet but she seemed an amazing women and her posts were a joy. My condolences to her family at this very difficult and sad time. She will be missed by everyone

Sincere condolences to family and friends of Carol who was, indeed, an inspiration to us all.
'To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all'
Oscar Wilde
Remembering an amazing woman who really lived life to the full.

She died as she lived - living life to the full and in a place she loved. May this be a comfort to her family.

She will be so much missed by so many people!

I read a quote by Abraham Lincoln who said " And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
No-one could have lived life to the full more than Carol and although it has been cruelly cut short, her zest for life and for living was an inspiration to so many. She enriched all our lives and I consider myself privileged that my life was touched by her.

I think as has already been said, what a true inspiration Carol has been to us all. I hope I can put as much into my life as Carol has put into hers, although I only knew her through Gransnet, she and what has happened has touched me deeply as it has so many others. I will never ever think I am too old to try anything again as I will always remember this wonderful lady. To her family, there are no words to say as you must just be so devastated, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carol, you will be missed by so many and it has been an absolute privilege to know you. R.I P. XX.