My wife, Beverley, was the heart of our family and the love of my life. She was my best friend, a devoted mother to our children, Mark and Kara, and someone who made people feel loved, seen and heard.

I knew within two weeks of meeting Beverley at a school dance at the West Ferris Arena that I wanted to marry her. For me, it was love at first sight. She laughed and told me I was being silly. We dated for seven years before marrying in 1972. This year would have marked our 54th wedding anniversary.

Our life together was filled with crowded family tables, laughter, more than a few competitive games of Yahtzee, and dancing together whenever we had the chance.

Some of my happiest memories are of our family together – walking along a beach in Hawaii with the warmth of the sun and the sound of the ocean around us, or spending quiet summer days at camp and the cottage. Wherever we were, she was happiest surrounded by the people she loved.

As the oldest of ten children, caring for others came naturally to Beverley. At five years old, she told her mother she wanted to become a nurse, and in 1970 she graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing. She spent 34 years caring for patients and supporting colleagues at the former North Bay General Hospital, including serving as Head Nurse of the Renal Dialysis Unit.

I was always proud of the nurse Beverley became and the difference she made in so many people’s lives.

Whether she was caring for families, patients or someone in the community, or volunteering with the Near North Palliative Care Network, she believed every person deserved kindness, dignity and respect.

We never imagined that one day Beverley would need the same kind of care she had spent her life providing. The care she received at North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) brought comfort and reassurance during days filled with uncertainty.

They also cared for Marc, Kara and me. They answered our questions, explained what was happening and took the time to listen when we felt overwhelmed.

Because Beverley received care here in North Bay, Marc and Kara could remain part of her journey. We could sit beside her, hold her hand and spend precious time together as a family.

Those are the moments I will always be grateful for and will carry with me forever.

It was important for us to recognize the healthcare professionals who cared for Beverley and express how much their compassion meant to our family. That is why we chose to make a donation to the NBRHC Foundation through the Grateful Family Program.

With our donation, we were able to honour Beverley’s care team with a Golden Heart Award. Sharing our gratitude in person and thanking the people who cared for her created moments our family will always treasure. It gave us the opportunity to tell them how deeply their kindness, patience and compassion affected us.

The experience became part of our healing. As someone who devoted her life to caring for others, I know Beverley would have been deeply touched to see her own caregivers recognized in this way.

Funding state-of-the-art medical equipment and services is a partnership between government, the hospital and our community. Your donation helps provide our local hospital with advanced medical equipment and technology to diagnose, treat and care for patients from across our region, ensuring exceptional care is available for patients and families when they need it most.

Our family knows firsthand how much it means to have exceptional healthcare close to home. It allowed us to remain by Beverley’s side through some of the most difficult moments, including spending her final days together as a family.

I will always be grateful for the compassion Beverley received. Donating was my way of expressing that gratitude while also helping care for the next family who needs care at NBRHC.

Please join me in making a donation to ensure patients and families have access to the equipment, technology and support they need right here at home.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Bernie Charron,
Grateful Family