Obituary of Betty Gardner

Betty died peacefully, surrounded by the extraordinarily kind environment of Chateau Gardens in Elmira, on Friday, February 8, 2013. Betty was the dear and supportive friend of Lee Bryant of Waterloo. Betty was born in Walthamstow, Essex, United Kingdom and immigrated to Canada in 1949 and settled in Preston. Betty moved to Kitchener and worked as a draftsperson at the Dominion Rubber Company - the only woman in the male domain. Betty then joined the Bible Christian Union in Brooklynn where she wrote articles for their publications and illustrated them with her excellent photography. The Mission moved her to Montreal and Halifax - she was involved with the B.C.U. for nine years. After staying a year in England and a summer in France, Betty decided to change direction. In 1969, Betty moved to Toronto and got a position with the University of Toronto Admissions Department and stayed nine years. Betty read omnivorously, especially newspapers and was a wonderful advocate, and in the 1980's, convinced Mel Hurtig, the publisher of the Canadian Encyclopedia, that Waterloo should have its own entry separate from Kitchener. Betty and Lee moved back to uptown Waterloo in 1979. Friends are invited to share memories of Betty during visitation in the auditorium of Chateau Gardens, 11 Herbert St., Elmira, on Tuesday, February 12 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the funeral service at 2 p.m. Pastor Fred Lichti of Elmira Mennonite Church will officiate. A reception will follow. Interment at Mountview Cemetery, Cambridge on Wednesday. Messages of condolence and memorial donations to Chateau Gardens may be arranged by contacting the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.