Obituary of Charly Christen Parker

With deep sorrow, the Parker family announces the sudden passing of Charly Christen Parker. Charly entered the world as a curious and strong-willed little girl. She was always confident in saying what she liked – and didn’t. Little Charly was a loving, picky eater, who loved animals, fishing with her dad, teasing her brother, and having her hair braided by her mother.

Charly, an academically strong student, attended Doaktown Primary School, Doaktown Consolidated High School, and graduated from Central New Brunswick Academy in 2012. After years of hard work, Charly received a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick Fredericton in 2016.

Charly’s first nursing position brought her to Thunder Bay, Ontario, an experience she spoke of as challenging, but rewarding. She made many great friends that year. The next move brought her back to Fredericton where she worked as a medical-surgical nurse at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, again making many friends.

Moving again, Charly briefly worked in orthopedic surgery at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, before enrolling in the Perioperative Nursing Program, which turned out to be her true calling. She spoke with great enthusiasm about learning new skills and procedures in the operating room. Charly was truly excited by the acuity and adrenaline of the OR at the Dartmouth General Hospital. She made countless friends and forged strong relationships with surgeons and fellow nurses alike.

In 2023, Charly began travel nursing, which brought her to Miramichi, NB and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, again making new friends while experiencing new communities, new traditions, and new challenges with the healthcare system. She was planning for work in Victoria, BC later this month.

Charly made friends with ease and had many great adventures with travel across the Maritimes, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, the United States, and mostly recently to Germany. As evidenced by the many photos, Charly enjoyed every moment and cherished the time spent with friends.

She liked to reward herself for hard work and was known to often appear with a new purse or jewelry – and never an inexpensive brand. Charly also enjoyed the simple things like taking a drive around nighttime Halifax in her beloved green Mini Cooper, getting a large Coke Zero during dollar drink days, cooking a “fancy” chicken dinner, snuggling with her cats Maverick and Goose, and debating healthcare conundrums with her brother. Charly loved a kayak adventure on the Miramichi River, which usually included a rollover and a lost phone or sunglasses.

Charly had big dreams, big ambitions, and a big personality – we will forever remember Charly as 29 and free. Her life was much too short, but she lived it well. Charly, we know you are at peace.

Charly is survived by parents Jack and Laura, maternal grandparents Nancy and Ronald, all of New Bandon, NB, brother Thomas (TJ) of Halifax, NS, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from east to west, and seemingly a million great friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of York Funeral Home’s Miramichi Valley Chapel. Family and friends are invited to remember and celebrate Charly at St James the Greater Anglican Church, 6959 Route 8, Ludlow NB on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 2 pm. Following the service, all are welcome to gather at Jack and Laura’s home, 7738 Route 8, New Bandon for a time of reception. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charly’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Fredericton SPCA. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com