Longland, Bertha Elizabeth (Betty)
May 8, 1922 ~ November 24, 2009
Betty passed away very peacefully on Tuesday, November 24th at Extended Care, St Joseph's Hospital, following a paralyzing stroke exactly 15 months ago. She was predeceased by husband, Bill (1994) and eldest son Geoff (2004).
She is survived by daughters, Claire (Arlen) McGrath, Nancy Longland, and son, Ralph (Shelley) Longland, as well as her 5 grandchildren, Krista McGrath (Shaun Noel), Karen McGrath, Scott McGrath, Megan Longland, Morgan Longland and 2 great grandsons, Austin Noel and Rylan Noel. She also leaves "grandson" Kelly (Brenda) Coe and baby Tanner. Also left are her friends, "the little dog", Hanna and the big dog, Cooper.
Betty was born in Alberta and attended college in Edmonton, taking bookkeeping which she made good use of in future years. She moved to Courtenay in 1944 and worked at Woodlands Rexall Drug Store on 5th Street, Courtenay. She met Bill that year and they were married in July 1945. She worked as a bookkeeper for Bill's businesses, as well as raising four children. They started with the Construction company; then the municipal water business as well as the first coin-operated laundromat (Pinky) in Comox. These were followed by Longland's Par 3 Golf Course in 1979.
Over the years, Betty did a lot of volunteer work in Comox. She served on the Recreation Commission when the first Rec Centre was built (1967), on the very 1st Comox Days Committee (1968), as well as the Advisory Planning Committee for Comox. She was also very much involved with Boy Scouts, Junior Golf and latterly the Heritage Committee, as well as others too numerous to mention.
She had many close friends, quite a few she had known since her move to the Valley. She loved to have her coffee parties and luncheons, whether it was the neighbours or the "Rexall girls" or just a group she thought would have a good "chin wag". If one of her friends was going through a stressful time, she would be there with a shoulder and casserole. She was a talented seamstress and could always make "a silk purse out of a sow's ear", if she found a piece of clothing that wasn't exactly as she pictured! Painting became her new hobby in 1975 and over the years she enjoyed re-creating her favorite local scenes and pictures. Betty took pictures of everyone at every occasion and has carefully organized them all in albums. Everyone got used to "just stand still and smile".
We would like to thank Dr. Neufeld, and all the staff at St. Joseph's, both on the 3rd Floor and at Extended Care for all their kindness and caring for Betty in her last year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Fund or to a charity of your choice.
We hope you will join us for a Celebration of Betty's Life at Crown Isle Golf Course on Monday, December 14th from 1-3pm. Please join us in remembering Betty by visiting our Memorial at www.MeM.com. Through this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and memories with our family.