Feb. 15 1915 – Jan. 16 2012
Elizabeth (Betty) Gibson was born in Clinton Township, Lincoln County, Ontario on February 5, 1915, and passed away at the age of 96 on January 16, 2012 at Greenwoods Home in Ganges, Salt Spring Island, BC. She is survived by her husband Andrew, by their daughter Molly Van Poelgeest, and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Betty was a Registered Nurse in Ontario, and practiced professionally in many locations in Canada and the U.S.A. until retiring to Salt Spring Island in 1984.
Betty had been an accomplished equestrienne as a young woman, and remained interested all of her life. Following retirement her home interests were principally gardens, flowers and birds, while beyond the home she was active in different organizations devoted to the betterment of society locally and beyond. She was one of the first members of The Raging Grannies, who, by means of song, satire and humour, directed a critical eye on genetic manipulation, certain forestry and fisheries practices, and on many other threats to our society.
Betty was one of the founding members of OGIFA, the Ometepe-Gulf Islands Friendship Association, devoted to helping the people of Nicaragua, principally on Ometepe Island, by importing their coffee at the Fair Trade price, and using the proceeds from sales here to finance many much-needed improvements in their lives, such as schools, roads, water lines, and a small loans bank for women’s enterprises. Betty visited Nicaragua many times, proving, in her seventies, that she could handle a spirited horse on the challenging back-country roads.
We would like to express our grateful appreciation for the superb care that Betty has received during this time and for the last twenty five years from Dr. Janet McPhail. We also thank the staff of Greenwoods Care Home, whose kindly and efficient professionalism was very important to Betty and to her family during the final months of her life.
There will be a celebration of her life at her home on Saturday, February 18, 1 to 3 p.m.