Elspeth "Beth" Stark (MacSwan) Burnley

Elspeth Stark Burnley (nee MacSwan) came into this world on April 14, 1937 as the youngest of four siblings. Early on she made up her own mind on everything and at 17 brought herself to Canada to start a new life and adventure. After meeting her husband Ken they quickly began a family and life together first welcoming Ken Jr (Barb)., then Katie ((Ralph) and eventually Kristin(Darryl) too.

Beth worked many careers, but none would define her as much as her role as mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved each of her children fiercely and was immensely proud of them. Beth was a spitfire of a woman and an advocate of those she loved. Heaven help you if you’d wronged her family in some way, the Burnley Matriarch had a long memory and an active imagination. But for those in her clan, she always went the extra mile to make sure you felt loved and celebrated.

Beth loved deeply and it was never more evident in how she treated her babies, especially the grand and great grand children. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Beckey (Sam), Laura (Scott), Cameron (Erin), Ellie and Archer and her great-grandchildren Lachlan and Tayvin. With them 'Nanny' was always playing cars, dress up (she had the best shoe collection) or baking cookies to be shared with everyone. Beth was an avid crafter as well, her knitting and crochet work was never done but her passion in every piece she created was evident. She loved her dickie birds, all things in nature and especially loved cooking for her family. Beth will live on in her recipes and the laughter she brought to the table.

In her last years Beth found comfort at Columbia Forest Care in Waterloo and the family would like to express our deepest thanks for all that the team did for her. Our hearts are heavy but there is comfort in knowing that Beth is at peace now and reunited with her husband and parents. In lieu of flowers we’d ask that you plant as many spring flowers as you can, they were always her favorite and she loved the first ones that signaled the end to winter. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Burnley family.

~The wee bird sing and the wildflowers spring, And in sunshine the waters are sleeping, But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring again, Though the woeful may cease from their grieving

O you take the high road, and I'll take the low road, And I'll be in Scotland afore ye, But me and my true love will never meet again, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond~