(July 26, 1926 – September 6, 2016) - Betty found it hard to believe she made it to ninety. Her mother had died suddenly in her mid-forties so she was incredulous when she made it to fifty. The rest, in her mind, was a bonus!
Betty grew up in Toronto before and during the Second World War. She was a bright young lady, in part because her father, a bookkeeper and avid stamp collector, stressed the importance of education. Her sister, Laura, was her role model; attending university and earning a business degree right after the war. Betty attended the University of Toronto graduating in the first class of degree Registered Nurses in 1955. She then joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a Nursing Sister and was transferred to the East Coast. In 1957, she met and married her lifelong partner: a young Captain in the Canadian Army named James Cowan who had just returned from the Korean War and peacekeeping duties in Indo-China. The dashing couple were featured in a Toronto newspaper article celebrating their marriage.
Betty & Jim travelled the world as part of his 39 year military career, including forays that took her and the family to India, Germany, England, the United States, and (occasionally) Canada. Jim eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier-General with Betty his confidant, advisor and partner always by his side. Betty was charming, organized, raised two kids, and was always ready to move the household on short notice. She ended up moving 12 times in thirty years!
Betty worked as an RN in many countries. She eventually found her niche working with Veterans at the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa until she retired in 1986. Summers spent in Manotick, south of Ottawa, and winters in their small piece of heaven in St. Petersburg, Florida. Jim’s health eventually necessitated a move to North Bay for more family support, and they spent two happy years together in the Empire Living Centre. Jim died in January 2005 and Betty continued living at the Empire until medical issues forced her into hospital and then Casselholme. She passed away at Casselhome peacefully and with dignity on September 6, 2016.
Although robbed of health by her heart, diabetes and then dementia, she retained a wealth of stories about the old days, world travel and friends. She was one of the last remaining pioneers of that nursing class of 1955. Despite her short-term memory loss, she could still regale staff and visitors with tales of India in 1960-61, the Cuban missile crisis while in living in England, and daily life in the heart of Cold War Germany.
Betty was mom to Ian (Judy) of North Bay and Scott (Denise) of Miramichi, NB. Grandmother to Christopher, Samantha, Matthew, Travis and Annie. There was always a soft spot in her heart for Patches, our beagle, who emigrated from warm Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with the family to live in the snowy north.
The family would like to thank the staff at North Bay Regional Health Centre floor A1 and Casselhome Home for the Aged, her home for the past three years. Through difficult times, they were unrelenting in their care, kindness and compassion. Betty was truly lucky to have such a stellar group of professionals looking after her. Dr. Inez Jinnah was always there for her and worked many miracles to get her past ninety. Betty loved her manner, professionalism and compassion.
Interment will take place at Beechwood National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces in Ottawa, Ontario on September 10, 2016 where she will once again be with Jim to continue their travels. Donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association or a charity close to your heart would be what Betty wanted. Funeral arrangements are under to care and direction of HILLSIDE FUNERAL SERVICES in North Bay, Ontario. Online condolences can be made at http://www.hillsidefuneral.ca">www.hillsidefuneral.ca