It is with sorrow that our family announces the passing, following a brief illness, of our beautiful Betty Ann in Comox, B.C. on March 28, 2013 at the age of 68.
She will be greatly missed by her husband Bill (Comox, BC), daughter Erin Shilliday (Delta, BC) and husband Joe and grandson Callan, mother Rita Watkins nee Steen (Sudbury, ON), brother Jack (Guelph, ON) and wife Lucy, beloved aunts, uncles, neices and nephews, extended family and friends.
Betty was a passionate cook (a certified Cordon Bleu Chef who also trained at the Ballymaloe Cooking School in Ireland), an accomplished athlete and golfer. She remained active her whole life and, as with everything she did, approached it with vigor and enthusiasm. She had an infectious laugh and a warm, caring soul.
Early in her career, Betty Ann was a caring and energetic Physical Education teacher. As her love of cooking and entertaining developed, she ran a very successful catering business in Ontario, and eventually became Owner/Operator of a world-class, four-star Victorian Inn on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick.
Celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and significant birthdays were always special and superbly enhanced by Betty’s creative touch.
She is predeceased by her father Jack Watkins (Sudbury, ON) in August 2012.
A Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held in Sudbury Ontario.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Patricia Johnson and her colleagues at Highland Family Practice in Comox, and to the Nurses and staff at VIHA Home and Community Care.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honour of Betty Ann can be made to the Comox Valley Hospice Society
www.comoxhospice.com.