Obituary of Elizabeth Eccles

ECCLES, Elizabeth “Bette”

Passed away at Sunnyside Home, Kitchener, on Saturday, July 6, 2019, just short of her 95th birthday.  Beloved wife of the late Clare Eccles.  Dear mother of John Eccles (Martha) of Victoria BC, Kathy Lappin (Peter) of Calgary AB and the late Scott Eccles.  Loving grandmother of Jamie (Gemma), Brittany Lappin and Kelsey Lappin.  Proud great-grandmother of Leila and Lachlyn.  Predeceased by her loving parents Jack and May Hendry and her brother Bill Kraft.

Bette was a deeply caring person who loved family, friends and animals. She and Clare, her loving husband of 68 years, considered their cherished dogs members of the family. They enjoyed watching and feeding the birds, squirrels and chipmunks in their beautiful backyard. Bette loved sports. A sprinter as a girl, she later was chief cheerleader for Clare’s sports teams at Kitchener Collegiate Institute. She was a longtime member of the Granite Club, where she enjoyed curling. In their later years they loved to watch sports together, particularly basketball, baseball, football and curling. Bette had an adventurous spirit, and delighted in traveling. She and Clare travelled across Canada many times. Along the way they met and made many, many friends. Bette could strike up a conversation with anyone. They frequently vacationed in Florida and Bette enjoyed several trips to Europe. Bette and Clare became foster parents to a number of international graduate students of the University of Waterloo, and several of them became lifetime friends. Bette had a kind, sensitive heart, and cared deeply for those less fortunate. For years she volunteered at KW Hospital, and was a favourite at the First United Church’s Out of the Cold program. Bette was passionate about folk art, antiquing and crafts. Together she and Clare created beautiful, unique pieces, which they generously shared with friends and family. She had a wonderful flair for fashion, and always kept her sense of humour. Most of all, Bette loved her home, her friends and her family. She will be dearly missed.

Cremation has taken place.  There will be a Celebration of Life held on Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 1-3pm in the Fireside Room of the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S., Waterloo.

In memory of Bette, donations to the Sunnyside Home Foundation would be appreciated and can be arranged through https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/sunnyside-foundation.aspx or through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S., Waterloo www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.