NOVEMBER 15, 1919 – APRIL 24, 2009

Our feisty and much loved Mum passed away peacefully in Lady Minto Hospital on April 24, 2009. Survived by her children: Gail, Jennifer, Christopher and Waynne. So many years of entertainment and surprises – we will miss all that, along with your boundless enthusiasm and optimistic outlook.

Cheers, Mumsy dear and may the next round be as much fun.

We Love You

The family would like to thank Bobby

Crichton for his kindness and excellent care, and the wonderful nurses who work so hard — we are so very lucky to have you here.

August 22, 1918 – April 24, 2009

Elizabeth Eileen Dring, (nee Labrie), passed away at the Lady Minto Extended Care Unit on Friday April 24, 2009 at 90 years of age. Betty was born August 22, 1918 in Vancouver, BC to Charles and Gwendolyn Labrie. People on Salt Spring Island have known her as Betty since she moved here in 1992. Betty lived life with great flair and often appeared larger than life to others.

She lived in London during WWII and was engaged for a time to a Battle of Britain pilot. She auditioned and was considered for the lead role in “National Velvet”, which eventually went to Elizabeth Taylor. After the war she married her first husband, Richard “Dick” Neville, with whom she lived in London, New York, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic during the reign of the infamous Trujillo, whom she claimed to have met.

When her first marriage ended, Betty returned to Vancouver to live with her parents. It was at this time that she suffered a fall down a flight of stairs and partially severed her spinal cord. After spending a year on a rotating board, her back healed and she was able to walk with a back brace. It was while wearing this back brace that she met her second husband, Wilfred Charles Dring, in Vancouver.

She gave birth to two sons in the early ‘60’s. She also appeared in some daytime television that aired on local Vancouver stations. For a short period, she was co-owner of a small art gallery in North Vancouver. The family moved to Montreal in 1966 where Betty stayed until the passing of her husband in 1990. Tiring of life in the big city, she sold her condominium and on a whim bought a house overlooking Ganges Village, while visiting a friend there in 1992. It was the home previously owned by Dr. Ernie Jarman. Betty had decorative flair and was proud of her home and its Japanese garden. She had a variety of interesting friends and would enjoy entertaining them.

She is survived by a son, Brian Randle Dring, and daughter-in-law Katherine Sebastian Dring, of Waterford, Connecticut, a grandson, Sean-Patrick Dring, a college student at the University of Connecticut, a brother, Peter Labrie, 91, of West Vancouver, BC, as well as nieces Chardon Labrie, Mary Labrie Egan, Christina Cleary, Kathryn Brown and nephews Tim Labrie, Shaun Labrie and Peter Labrie. She is predeceased by a son, David-Patrick Dring.She was also predeceased by brothers Patrick Labrie, Michael Labrie and Brian Labrie.

A memorial service was held Wed. Apr. 29th at the Community Gospel Chapel

Donations in Betty’s name can be made to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, 135 Crofton Road, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 1T1

1917-2009

On April 19, 2009 Isabel Mary Vane-Hunt (nee Hooper) died at Lady Minto Hospital.

Isabel was born January 12, 1917 in Reigate, England, the 4th of eight children of Edith (nee Tatton-Winter) and Vincent Hooper. After her primary education, Isabel attended Studley College studying landscape design.

In 1936, Isabel traveled to Canada as a nanny, then worked with Nellie McClung gardening during the depression. Nellie McClung mentored Isabel’s lifelong beliefs in social activism.

Isabel returned to England to attend King’s College in London to train as an RN, working as an Army nurse during WWII.

After the war, Isabel married Conhor Vane-Hunt in 1947, with whom she had 5 children, emigrating to Canada in 1957.

Isabel lived in Cloverdale, Surrey, where she served as a Girl Guide and Ranger leader. She moved to Salt Spring Island in 1973.

An active organic gardener all of her life, Isabel planted orchards, vegetable and flower gardens wherever she lived. Isabel won many trophies for her outstanding exhibits at the Salt Spring Fall Fair.

Isabel supported Amnesty International, World Wildlife Fund, Western Wilderness Committee, Salt Spring Land Conservancy, and many other social and environmental causes. She supported Cowichan Therapeutic Riding and many other charitable works. Isabel traveled extensively until her debilitating condition confined her to a scooter.

A familiar sight on her scooter around Ganges, Isabel loved the Farmer’s Market, and led a protest in the 1970’s to keep the market in Centennial Park. She was also one of the early founders of the Salt Spring Recycling Depot.

Isabel is survived by her sister Margaret; her five children: Michael, Rosamond, Mary, Caroline and Martin; grandchildren: Tarka, Jordy, Selchie, Cryano, David and William and two great-grandchildren, Amber Isabel and Devon.

The family would like to thank Drs. Holly and Hansie and Nurses Israel, Jo and Michelle for their compassionate care during Isabel’s final hours.

Special thanks to caregivers Amornrat, Josie, Evelyn, Anna, Mary Morden, Rachel, Lisa and others for their devoted care over the last two years.

‘A Time for Everything’

To everything there is a season,

And a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing:

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

AN ACCOIL

A potluck celebration of Isabel’s life will be held at Tasaday Farm 180 Sharp Road on Saturday, May 16th from noon onwards.

Anyone who knew or was touched by Isabel is most welcome.

Please plant something, a tree, a vegetable or a bulb in her memory.

On April 15, 2009, Norberta Kathryn Amey Martin passed away at Lady Minto Hospital at the age of 96. Born in Los Angeles in 1913, Norberta lived much of her early life in Oakland, California. She liked reminiscing about difficult times during the Great Depression, and before, when her father traveled to the West Coast seeking work; by age seven she was writing letters begging him to come home. After high-school graduation, she volunteered at the county offices to repay relief money the family had received during a particularly hard year. Subsequently she packed biscuits at the Oakland shredded wheat factory and worked for an accounting firm in San Francisco. She then enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1937 with a degree in accounting. At Berkeley’s Henry Morse Stevens Masonic Lodge, Norberta met fellow student and future husband Marvin Martin. The couple had had two children by the time Marvin was called to serve in World War II effort in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The happy years following the war saw Norberta and Marvin raising their family in Berkeley, California, then Livermore. The children grown, they moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Marvin held a professorship in aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona and Norberta was active with local organizations. Norberta and Marvin retired to Port Alberni, moving to Salt Spring Island in 1989. Norberta remained active on the Island until this year when she suffered a stroke and was confined to Lady Minto Hospital. She died from a second stroke.

She is remembered by her family for embracing scary sailing and flying adventures, for sustaining many, many friendships, for her elegant entertaining, for her sharp mind and impeccable taste, and for her unflagging love.

She will be remembered around the village for her ancient and shiny red pickup truck, for her appreciation of all things beautiful, and for her social enthusiasm and love of company.

Norberta is survived by her two children Douglas and Susan, seven grandchildren, and ten great -grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to attend a tea party for Norberta on Sunday, May 31, 1:00 pm, at #5 Grace Point on Salt Spring Island. Parking at street level, please walk up to #5.

November 24, 1921

– April 1, 2009

Elizabeth passed away peacefully in Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew her. She was predeceased by her husband, Alex, and her brother, Tibor. She leaves: her beloved daughter Judith (Donald), and son Peter (Donna) and grandchildren Christopher, Kevin, Bryan, and Jeffrey, as well as six great grandchildren.

Both Elizabeth and Alex were born in Hungary and moved to Canada in 1951 after a five-year stay in Norway. Elizabeth excelled at everything she endeavoured: knitting, crocheting, gymnastics, figure skating, dancing, skiing, singing, gardening, hunting and fishing — all some of her favourite passions. She was also a gourmet cook and baker. At 70, Elizabeth took up painting, and got back into ballroom dancing and skiing. Alex and Elizabeth trained and showed hunting dogs, as well as raising horses while living in Dewinton, Alberta before moving to Salt Spring Island in 1987.

The family wishes to thank the paramedics, doctors and nursing staff who cared for Elizabeth so lovingly last week.

Honouring Elizabeth’s request, there will be a private graveside service. A gathering of friends and family will be held at a later date.

A Celebration of Bob Appleton’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Meadowbrook, 121 Atkins Road.