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Sports Day
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
In Sympathy
I regret that I have just added the name of Bishan Singh Judge to our obituary page. Our sympathy to his family.
That makes 14 obituaries since starting this site which reminds me to try to pay more attention to the important things.
my mother recently passed and was very active in View Royal Archives, Strawberry Vale School Alumni, and Friends of Knockan Hill. Please let people know her service is Sat Jan 24, 2015 (see end of obit for details). thank you, Cynthia Witwicki (daughter) Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Witwicki(June 24, 1927 - December 08, 2014) Mary ("Betty") passed away December 8th at the age of 87 in her home at Selkirk Place, Victoria. She was kindness personified, always ready with a smile and comforting words. She will be remembered for her positive, cheerful outlook. Betty was a lifelong learner, nourished in her last decades by weekly discussions at the Unity Church. Born in Victoria, the youngest of 5 children, Betty grew up next to Knockan Hill. She inherited her love of gardens from her father, Arthur Lahmer, a well-known Victoria landscaper. He created many showpiece gardens, honoured in Betty's 2010 book "From Farming in Ontario to Landscaping Victoria Gardens". Betty received her R. N. (1949) from Royal Jubilee (RJH), practiced at Toronto Western, at Victoria Public Health Dept and later at RJH. In 1953, she married Tony Witwicki (deceased), Chief P. O. RCN, and they raised 3 children, their pride and joy: Shirley, Cynthia, Michael. She obtained her B.A. (Psychology) and Teaching Certificate from UVIC, then founded Esquimalt's first licensed day care, Saxe Point Day Care (1971), which continues to serve as her legacy to the community. Betty was the family genealogist, and loved keeping history alive with View Royal Archives, Strawberry Vale School Alumni, Friends of Knockan Hill Park Society, and Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Betty and her sister Jessica Anderton enjoyed an active retirement together for 21 years, visiting their children and grandchildren across Canada, aka "The Greyhound Grandmas". Together they were a powerful yet loving force, famously and frequently hilariously, bonding the family. When Betty was 12 years old, she began highland dance and playing the bagpipes, igniting a lifelong passion of award winning bagpipe performance. Betty played in many bands including the Highland Lassie's Pipe Band 1940-42, Victoria Girls Pipe Band, and the Sooke Highlanders (now Saanich Peninsula Pipe Band) until 2009. She was a well-respected member of the Scottish dancing community. Betty frequently won solo bagpipe performances in the 40's and 50's, often joined in the winner's circle by her sister Jessica (bagpipes/highland dance) and her brother Allan (drums). She was honoured to be "Sister Piper" for St. Andrews and Caledonian Society. Betty leaves her 3 children and their families: SHIRLEY (Larry)-Victoria, daughters Michelle Peach (children Emma and Kylan), Denise Peach (Justin), Laura Peach (Perry); CYNTHIA (Bruce)-San Francisco, children Kelly, Ryan; MICHAEL-Calgary, son Christopher (Shaunna), (children Emma and Ellie). She is survived by her sister Christina Taran, and pre-deceased by sister Jessie, brothers Chester and Allan. Betty leaves many friends and relatives who held a special place in her heart. Grateful thanks to the staff at Selkirk who gave our Mom love, comfort and kindness while Selkirk Place was her home. Celebration of Life Service to be held 1:45 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, Recreation Room, Selkirk Place, 385 Waterfront Crescent, Victoria. Enquiries: Cynthia Witwicki witwicki@sbcglobal.net. In lieu of flowers, please donate to "The Alzheimer Society of B.C." Published in The Times Colonist from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, 2014
my mother recently passed and was very active in View Royal Archives, Strawberry Vale School Alumni, and Friends of Knockan Hill. Please let people know her service is Sat Jan 24, 2015 (see end of obit for details). thank you, Cynthia Witwicki (daughter)
ReplyDeleteMary Elizabeth (Betty) Witwicki(June 24, 1927 - December 08, 2014)
Mary ("Betty") passed away December 8th at the age of 87 in her home at Selkirk Place, Victoria. She
was kindness personified, always ready with a smile and comforting words. She will be remembered for
her positive, cheerful outlook. Betty was a lifelong learner, nourished in her last decades by weekly
discussions at the Unity Church.
Born in Victoria, the youngest of 5 children, Betty grew up next to Knockan Hill. She inherited her love of
gardens from her father, Arthur Lahmer, a well-known Victoria landscaper. He created many showpiece
gardens, honoured in Betty's 2010 book "From Farming in Ontario to Landscaping Victoria Gardens".
Betty received her R. N. (1949) from Royal Jubilee (RJH), practiced at Toronto Western, at Victoria Public
Health Dept and later at RJH. In 1953, she married Tony Witwicki (deceased), Chief P. O. RCN, and they
raised 3 children, their pride and joy: Shirley, Cynthia, Michael. She obtained her B.A. (Psychology) and
Teaching Certificate from UVIC, then founded Esquimalt's first licensed day care, Saxe Point Day Care
(1971), which continues to serve as her legacy to the community. Betty was the family genealogist, and loved keeping history alive
with View Royal Archives, Strawberry Vale School Alumni, Friends of Knockan Hill Park Society, and Horticulture Centre of the
Pacific. Betty and her sister Jessica Anderton enjoyed an active retirement together for 21 years, visiting their children and
grandchildren across Canada, aka "The Greyhound Grandmas". Together they were a powerful yet loving force, famously and
frequently hilariously, bonding the family.
When Betty was 12 years old, she began highland dance and playing the bagpipes, igniting a lifelong passion of award winning
bagpipe performance. Betty played in many bands including the Highland Lassie's Pipe Band 1940-42, Victoria Girls Pipe Band,
and the Sooke Highlanders (now Saanich Peninsula Pipe Band) until 2009. She was a well-respected member of the Scottish
dancing community. Betty frequently won solo bagpipe performances in the 40's and 50's, often joined in the winner's circle by her
sister Jessica (bagpipes/highland dance) and her brother Allan (drums). She was honoured to be "Sister Piper" for St. Andrews
and Caledonian Society.
Betty leaves her 3 children and their families: SHIRLEY (Larry)-Victoria, daughters Michelle Peach (children Emma and Kylan),
Denise Peach (Justin), Laura Peach (Perry); CYNTHIA (Bruce)-San Francisco, children Kelly, Ryan; MICHAEL-Calgary, son
Christopher (Shaunna), (children Emma and Ellie). She is survived by her sister Christina Taran, and pre-deceased by sister
Jessie, brothers Chester and Allan. Betty leaves many friends and relatives who held a special place in her heart.
Grateful thanks to the staff at Selkirk who gave our Mom love, comfort and kindness while Selkirk Place was her home.
Celebration of Life Service to be held 1:45 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, Recreation Room, Selkirk Place, 385 Waterfront
Crescent, Victoria. Enquiries: Cynthia Witwicki witwicki@sbcglobal.net. In lieu of flowers, please donate to "The Alzheimer Society
of B.C."
Published in The Times Colonist from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, 2014
Our condolences.
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Daryl Foster.