A love lost, but not forgotten
<p>Carina Mills-Harcourt is shown here in a snowy scene in 2007. She was well-known and loved by many in North Idaho, where she lived for several years before moving to Australia to be with the love of her life.</p>
<p>Carina Mills-Harcourt and Tim Harcourt shared a once-in-a-lifetime love that ended abruptly when Carina died April 6, just hours after giving birth to their third child.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Carina Mills-Harcourt's life was special right from the beginning.
She was adopted after being abandoned at a police station as a newborn. She grew up in Mazatlan, Mexico, and moved with her family to the United States. They ended up in Post Falls, where her father built a home and they welcomed her baby brother, David Mills, into the world.
"Carina was a warm and kind individual who always donned a smile and passed it to anyone she came in contact with," said Mills, of Hayden.
Carina loved music and supported her local music scene by attending shows and jam nights in downtown Coeur d'Alene. She was a bartender on Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruise boats, a bartender and server at Cricket's Restaurant and Oyster Bar and served at Moontime for four years. She was very involved in her community and cherished by all who knew her, including a huge online support network of Facebook Mothers. Carina loved people and it was obvious how much people loved her.
"Whenever my mom and I would stop in for lunch or dinner, she would always be laughing with all of her employees and guests," Mills said. "It was never a bad day with her. She cared."
Carina's ability to touch lives and hearts was not confined to North Idaho.
Among the many souls she touched is her husband, Tim Harcourt. She crossed the globe to be with him in his homeland of Australia. They met as friends online about five years ago, when Tim was in an unhappy marriage. Once his marriage ended, the two began to talk every day. He took a leap of faith and invited her to Australia to meet in person, and they immediately fell for each other. Carina moved Down Under, they married and she soon gave birth to their daughters, Esperanza, 3, and Allegra, 2, and finally their son, Richie, who was born April 5.
"We had something that no one I know has ever seen or had," Tim said. "It is very unfortunate that she was lost so young."
Carina, 35, died unexpectedly from an embolism just hours after giving birth to their son, leaving behind the special little lives she helped bring into the world and the soulmate she went halfway around the world to find. She is sorely missed by her children, husband, parents, brother, friends and just about everyone she met in Mexico, Idaho, Australia and beyond.
Mills said he was overwhelmed when 200 people attended his sister's funeral in Australia.
"Her life shows just how large of a legacy you can leave behind by simply exercising your capacity to love," Mills said. "She spoke ill of no persons and endlessly encouraged people to be strong. Do the right thing. Persevere. I'm a better person for all of the things she taught me, and I'd be lying if I said I only had two parents growing up.
"She did life the way that you're supposed to."
The public is welcome to attend the "Remembering Carina Mills-Harcourt" celebration taking place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles 15th Street Pavilion, 1730 N. 15th St. in Coeur d'Alene. The celebration is free and will include live music, a potluck and silent auction. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Tim and their children. Guests are encouraged to bring a dish and memories to share.
Info: zachnmarz@hotmail.com