By Sara Sipe EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Leaving Minnesota in search of a slower lifestyle and a more quality family life, Carmen Wooldridge, alongside husband JP “Wooly,” arrived in Big Sky in 1991. And they achieved just that—they embraced the slower lifestyle offered in Big Sky and started building community. They made friends, joined a church, built successful businesses, and raised their daughter, Sarah (Blechta).
Wooldridge was an active member of her church’s choir back in Minnesota. It’s there that she first sang for a funeral.
“I started back in Minnesota with a group from our church, then after moving to Big Sky I was singing at our Sunday mass and was asked if I would [sing at a funeral],” Wooldridge wrote in an email to EBS, adding that it’s “hard to say no to the families, especially to those I knew and loved.”
Thirty years later she has sung at too many funerals to count. I have been to at least five funerals in Big Sky that were blessed by her songs of sorrow wafting over the congregation. And her almost operatic, high soprano rendition of “Amazing Grace” has brought me and many others to tears. I found comfort knowing that Wooldridge was singing from her heart, having also been friends with the person we were there to remember and honor.
When asked if there is an emotional toll for having sung at the funerals of so many friends and acquaintances over the years, she says, “It is comforting knowing that I could help people get through a very difficult and painful time of saying goodbye to loved ones.”
She also says she is supported by her family and Big Sky community with many words of kindness and appreciation.
“As difficult as it can be, it’s very healing,” Wooldridge said. “It’s my way of saying goodbye.”
Wooldridge still sings at funerals in Big Sky, upon request. More often, you will find her at the Yellowstone Club where she is the office manager for mountain operations, or spending time with her faith community at Big Sky Christian Fellowship. Her favorite place to be is outdoors recreating with her grandchildren, and enjoying the slower lifestyle and quality family time that brought her to Big Sky in the first place.
Big Sky Community Spotlight is a short column that is meant to shine a light on those in Big Sky doing important work. Whether it be a profession, hobby or volunteer work, Big Sky is home to interesting people that do interesting things and as our community grows, it is important to stay connected to our neighbors and local businesses. This is more easily done if we know more about one another. We hope you enjoy getting to know your neighbors!
