FINDLAY, Helen FINDLAY
HELEN ELIZABETH "BETH"
Mrs. Beth Findlay (nee Orme), dearly loved wife of the late G. W. "Pete" Findlay, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, on Thursday, January 27th, 2005 at Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary, at the age of 84 years. Beth leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Anne
Findlay; two grandsons,
Paul Ducharme and Kent Ducharme, all of Calgary; her sister, Edna (Laird) Phimester of Calgary; her brother, George (Verda) Orme of New Westminster, British Columbia; her sister-in-law, Lois (Bill) Shirlaw of Edmonton; her brother-in-law, Nyk Hrynyk of Medicine Hat; as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also missed by the Pearson family, Brenda, Shannon, Neil and Stephanie of Calgary,
to whom she was
"Grandma Findlay". Beth was predeceased by her parents, George and Jean Orme; two sisters, Ada Smith and Marie Schmidt. Beth was born on October 11th, 1920 in Red Deer, Alberta. She attended the U of A where she earned her Nursing Diploma in 1943 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in 1944. She worked as a Public Health Nurse in Didsbury until Pete returned from the Royal Canadian Air Force as a POW in November 1945. Pete and Beth were married on December 27th, 1945 in Red Deer. They moved to Toronto in 1946 where Beth continued her nursing career while Pete attended the U of Toronto, College of Optometry. In 1950, they returned to Red Deer for a short period of time before settling first in Edmonton, and then to Medicine Hat in 1952, where they spent many happy years. Beth was involved in many activities in Medicine Hat. She was a member of the Westminster United Church UCW, the Quota Club, and the University Women's Club. She belonged to both Kinettes
and Shrine Ladies. She volunteered for the Medicine Hat Hospital Gift Shop, Medicine Hat Musical Theatre, Meals on Wheels, and The Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, as well as for many charities. She was also a proud alumnus of the U of A and attended her 60th Nursing Class Reunion in Edmonton in October 2004. Beth and Pete enjoyed an active social life with many special friends, playing bridge and travelling in their trailer. When Pete retired, they became Snowbirds travelling to Arizona in their motor home. She and Pete also traveled worldwide, with trips to Hawaii, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, many European countries, Japan, and the Far East, as well as going on cruises to the Caribbean and to Alaska. Family and friends were very important to Beth. She was admired, respected, and loved, and she will be missed beyond words. Heartfelt gratitude goes to the outstanding staff at Lake Bonavista Village, Calgary, Beth's home since October 2003, especially Barbara, Alicia, and Shelley. She was treated with the kindness, dignity, and respect she deserved. Also, a most sincere thank you is extended to Dr. T. Cowtan and the nursing staff of Unit 73 at the Rockyview Hospital for their compassionate care during Beth's time there. To Barb Castell and Brenda Pearson, words are not enough to tell you what your love and support mean.
"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of elegance and strength, and I stand and watch until, at last, she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 'There she goes,' there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes.' Beth and Pete - Together Forever."
A Memorial Service will be held at WESTMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, 101 6th Street SE, Medicine Hat, on Saturday, March 19th, 2005, at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend James Farrell officiating. A Private Family Interment will follow in the Family Plot at Hillside Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy those wishing to remember Mrs. Beth Findlay may do so with a gift to the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, 1302 Bomford Crescent SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5E6 or to the Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation, 124, 430 - 6th Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 2S8. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to saamisfc@telusplanet.net, subject-heading Beth Findlay.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL AND CREMATORIUM
"The Chapel in the Park", Medicine Hat