I was so sorry to hear that Elizabeth had passed away last week and on her 99th birthday. As Albert said 'Auntie Betty - classy to the end!' It's sad to think that it's the end of an era, a generation.

It doesn't matter how long a life somebody has had, their death still comes as a shock and it is difficult to come to terms with. I'm sure at the moment that you are all busy with arrangements and it will only be after this weekend that the reality of your loss will hit. I know that your Mum has been failing in recent years but you will have lots of happy memories to comfort you.

Isabel and myself were so glad that we were across in Canada a few years ago to visit with both Auntie Betty and Auntie Jean and spend time catching up with all their stories. It was such a lovely time we spent with both of them - visits, outings, meals, chats over coffee and family get togethers. It was also so good to meet up with so many of our cousins and families again. It was great to meet up with you again after all these years and to meet most of your 'children' and grandchildren. Amazing that it all worked out. 

I have many happy memories too of all the times that your Mum and Dad visited Scotland from when you and Debra were very young to the later visits that they made on their own. These times were always great fun. Your mum was always so proud of her Scottish roots. I know that my 'children' enjoyed your parents visits to Scotland and also when we were all over in Canada when your parents were in Sanders Boulevard. 


Our thoughts and prayers will be with you all, especially on Friday and Saturday

As a teenager I truly enjoyed visiting at your home in the west end. Debbie was my good friend during our high school years. Your Mother was a beautiful and classy lady who always made me feel welcome. I am sorry for your loss. Debbie, please feel free to contact me when it suits you. 

As a little lad growing up in Aberdeen, Scotland, we always knew when our North American great aunts were coming to town. It was an event! There was a buzz! They lived in the BIG country; Canada, with its wide open spaces, Grizzly Bears, Wolves & Mountain Lions; Niagara Falls, huge malls & parks; Big cars, Baseball, the Sky Dome & the CN Tower; long hot summers that could melt a pale wee lad & baltic winters, with golf-ball-sized hail stones. 

Auntie Betty was the go-getting trailblazer, who’d upped sticks and crossed the Atlantic. I never quite knew if she’d been swept off her feet by Uncle Harold, the dashing pilot, or if he’d been swept of his feet by stylish Betty, that force of nature!

She & Uncle Harold had this amazing house, with intercoms, multiple TVs (compared to the standard 4 channel British tv, what seemed like endless channels) & an unbelievable basement fridge full of cans of juice, “pop” as they’d call it. Oh the “robins” that would land in their garden looked more like eagles to me than the puffed up little feather-balls with the same name we get in the UK. Wow! These things all mattered to a 6 year old. 

Betty & Harold would tease each other senseless, go for drives to the Indian reserve to check out huge totem poles, amazing pottery, knives, headdresses & more.

Betty always cut a dash, busying herself, chatting, organising & running the show. Meanwhile Harold would make sure he wound Betty up (calling her the bird!) & she would do it right back - just enough to keep each other on their toes, with a twinkle in their eyes. Seeing them always felt like you were sharing a fun secret or learning something that most folks don’t know. It felt like you were in the big tent, somewhere special.

Goodbye to my wonderful Great Auntie Betty. You made a huge impression on a little Scottish lad’s life & I will be forever grateful to have been your great nephew. 

To a real go-getter, with all my love John (Isabel and Ian’s youngest), London, UK

OBITUARY

Elizabeth Barr McInerney

19 February, 1921 – 19 February, 2020

Marlatt Funeral Home, Swackhamer Chapel

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