Carol Ann Haugen

Carol Ann Nelson McLoughlin Haugen passed away peacefully on January 1, 2020, with her sister by her side and her loving family surrounding her, after a year-long battle with cancer. She is survived by her dear sis, Georgene Nelson Birchard (Ted); step-brother Tom Cossalter; sons Pat McLoughlin (Kathy), Mark McLoughlin (Jody), Jay McLoughlin (Jacquie), and Gary Cardinelli; daughter Laurie Haugen, and daughter-in-law Bonnie Prietto (Peter); step-son Steven Haugen and step daughter Debbie Marshall (Bob), as well as seven grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great-grandson, three step-great- granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Haugen; her father, Gene Nelson; her beloved mother, Ann Nelson Cossalter; and step-dad, Herman Cossalter.

Carol was born in Seattle, at Swedish Hospital, November 19, 1932, to Ann and Gene Nelson. Her sister, Georgene, was born on the same date exactly two years later, beginning a lifelong friendship. Parents Ann and Gene owned a fur shop in the Ballard/ Fremont area, but lost the business when Gene died tragically in an auto accident in 1938. The ensuing years were difficult for Ann and her daughters, but Ann was a fighter, always reminding the girls “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” Growing up, Carol was able to draw great strength and inspiration from her mother,
who taught her that to endure the hardships in life, you have to balance it with plenty of laughter and a “can-do” attitude.

While single mother Ann was working full time, Carol and Georgene spent a year at Holy Names Academy boarding school, where the ever-helpful Carol would crawl under the row of dormitory beds to secretly help her sister make her bed with the proper “hospital corners”… until she got caught! The trio moved to Alameda CA, during WWII, where Ann worked in the shipyards. They lived in multiple boarding homes until their return to Seattle after the war, where they moved in with Carol’s grandmother in the Greenwood neighborhood. Carol attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1950. She loved being involved in school activities and making friends – if it was a club or sorority, she was a member! She loved music and dancing – spending time at the Trianon Ballroom, Parker’s and the Spanish Castle – Carol was always on the go.

Carol met Mick McLoughlin at Lincoln High, and the two married in February 1951. Babies followed – Pat (1951), Mark (1953), Laurie (1955) and Jay (1959). Family life was full of adventures and Carol was always up for whatever came their way – camping during the summers, skiing most weekends of the winter months, and many wonderful times spent on Vashon Island at Ann and Herman’s cabin. She also remained close to her school chums and would often have them, with their children, over to the house for coffee or lunch. Carol was also very involved in her kids’ school and community activities – she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Campfire Girls Leader, and participated in PTA. When the family moved to the Magnolia neighborhood, she was involved in the Magnolians, the
Tennis Club and never missed the Wednesday Ski Bunnies weekly ski trip with her fellow moms – all the while nurturing her kids through the ups and downs of childhood, through teenage years and out on their own. With two kids still at home, her tremendous love helped one of Jay’s young friends, who had been in and out of foster care, by giving him a stable home and a chance to thrive in a family environment. She provided him with much needed love and guidance at a critical time in his young life.

Carol and Mick separated in 1980 and later divorced. Carol worked, traveled and was again on a life adventure – she traveled to China, New York City, Hawaii, Spokane and California, as well as working hard to support herself.

Carol and David

Through her sister Georgene and husband Ted, Carol met David Haugen in 1983. David and Carol were married in 1987 and lived in Bothell until they retired in 1995. They had purchased property in Winthrop, along the Chewuch River, located in the North Cascades Methow Valley, and made the move there upon retirement to build their dream home. There they made many new friends and enjoyed many more adventures; working on the property, caravan camping in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter and enjoying the good life for 23 years. Carol always maintained her long- time friendships as well, welcoming folks for visits to the Methow, or coming back over to the coast for visits. She continued to work part time as well as volunteer at the local library and at the local school as a mentor – until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. David was instrumental in helping her through two long years of treatment and recovery, and she beat the odds of survival by 17 years with her positive attitude, good nature, strength and can-do attitude. Once Carol regained her health, she was back to working part time, mentoring, downhill skiing at Loop Loop, cross country skiing throughout the valley, hiking, golfing, floating on her river, and enjoying the splendor of the Methow Valley. She also befriended and mentored others with the same medical diagnosis she had survived.

When the time came to leave the Methow Valley, it was a bittersweet but necessary decision. They moved to Wenatchee for three years, finally coming back to the “west side” in 2017, where they were fortunate to find a home at Woodland Terrace, a gem of a retirement community in Bothell. Here, Carol, with the invaluable support and help from her step-daughter Debbie, would provide care for David’s failing health, until his passing in 2018. Carol stayed on at Woodland Terrace, where she made many dear friends, went to all the exercise classes, participated in almost every activity, showing her competitive streak during the Senior Olympics, and enjoyed a lovely life. She so enjoyed being back in Bothell, close to her family in the area, and spending a lot of “catch up” time with kids, grandkids and dear friends. Carol was a warm, friendly, generous woman with a heart as big as the world, all without a hint of pretense. She loved life and loved everyone who crossed her path.

When she was diagnosed with a terminal illness early in 2019, she chose to fight it on her own terms. She continued to live life to the fullest, seeing the Skagit Valley Tulips; traveling to California to meet her great-grandson for the first time; trips to her son Jay and his wife Jacquie’s home on Whidbey Island; seeing “Wicked” at the Paramount Theatre, followed by dinner at Dick’s Drive-In; eating her way through the Monroe State Fair and seeing every exhibit there; and traveling to Winthrop for one last visit to lay David’s ashes to rest. Carol remained alert and cheerful through her illness, welcoming friends and family to visit and share stories, blessing us with her kindness and love until the end. Carol was an incomparable mom, stepmom and nana, sister and auntie. She was the kind of person who always gave you her full attention and listened to what you had to say – she made everyone feel special. She’s the one you always thought of first to call to share a joy of the day. Her loving, supportive, gracious and kind spirit was felt by so many and left an impression on all who knew her.

Due to the current circumstances, we do not have a memorial planned at this time. We will celebrate her life on a later date. Memorials may be sent to the angels on earth at Evergreen Health Hospice Care, 12822 124th Lane NE, Kirkland, WA 98034 – www.evergreenhealth.com