Dr. Hetty Clews
July 18, 1929 – Nov. 5, 2012
Dr. Hetty Clews, of Victoria, British Columbia passed away with family at her side on Monday, November 5, 2012 in the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Born in Rowley Regis, Birmingham, UK, July 18, 1929, to Wilfred and Florence Minnie Upton, Hetty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was also an acclaimed actor, singer, author, director, and educator. She completed her BA in Theology at the University of Birmingham and a BEd, MA, and PhD in English at the University of Saskatchewan. Her passion for the theatre led her to be involved with the Saskatoon Summer Players, the Gateway Players, ArtSpring, the Langham Court Theatre, and numerous other theatre companies—a testament to her love of supporting community access to the arts. An active volunteer, Hetty regularly dedicated her time to such causes as hospice, libraries, and the environment. She held great comfort in her faith, and was a lay minister both in England and on Salt Spring Island, BC. Hetty was an excellent cook, a whiz at Scrabble, and had a beautiful voice, which she was not afraid to use, whether it was to welcome friends and family into her presence, or to sing. Everyone who knew her knew how she loved people, and her secret chocolate stash was never a secret for too long in her household.
Hetty is survived by her husband of 59 years Dr. Alan Clews; her son Simon (Susan), her daughters Alison (Bob), Margaret (Sheldon), Madeleine (Hugh); her grandchildren Sarah (Geoffrey), Rachel (Adam), Katherine (Dave), Justin (Kimi), Sam (Ashley), Emily, Erin, and Laura; and her great-grandchildren Colin, Ryan, and Julian. She will be greatly missed by Barbara Wood and family, Margaret Downton, Janet Stokes, Max Taylor, Allan and Margaret Harris, Patrick Queely (Helen), David Holmes, Marje Clews, Bonnie Taylor, and many others.
The memorial service will be held at 10:30 am November 14th, 2012 at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC.
“In our beginning is our end, and in our end is our beginning.”
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