Dr. Elizabeth P. Imrie

Born in Sheffield, England, she was the daughter of Dr. John and Lydia (Price) Chisholm.

Betty was the eldest of six sisters and assumed a leadership role at a young age. She looked after her four younger sisters, Agnes, Ishbel, Janet and Anne when they were evacuated, without their parents, from England to Canada at the beginning of the Second World War. Betty and her sisters lived with their aunt and uncle, Agnes and Jos Wilson in Quebec City for five years. She attended McGill University before returning to England at the end of the war. She completed her medical degree at the University of Sheffield and became a general practitioner when this was still uncommon for a woman.

In 1957, Betty and her young family immigrated to Humboldt, Saskatchewan. After one chilly winter, they made Nova Scotia their home, first in Clark’s Harbour and then Barrington Passage. They spent three years in Hawkesbury, Ontario in the 1960’s before returning to Halifax where she lived the rest of her life. Although she lived in Canada for over 60 years, she considered Britain as "home”, making annual visits for as long as her health permitted. She celebrated all things British and especially enjoyed Scottish country dancing, British food and generally doing things “properly”, the way they were done “at home”.

Betty practiced medicine for 5 years before she became a full time mother to her four children. In 1967, finding herself a single parent, she returned to the medical profession. She worked at Dalhousie University Student Health Service and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she continued her full time employment until age 73. She was fiercely independent and refused to succumb to the rheumatoid arthritis from which she suffered for many years.

She viewed her most important role as mother to her children and worked lovingly and selflessly to provide for them. She instilled in them a strong work ethic, a no nonsense practicality and the importance of putting the next foot forward – “Just get on with it!”

Betty was loved by and will be greatly missed by her children, Fiona Imrie (Dan Potter) of Halifax, Cathy Imrie (Jay Biskupski) of West Vancouver, BC, Diana Imrie (“Topsy”) (Mike MacLeod) of Kelowna, BC and John Imrie of Mtubatuba, South Africa and her sisters, Ishbel Grandison (Peebles, Scotland) and Janet Jeacock (Newmarket, England). She also leaves 10 grandchildren: Greg, Rachel, Alex, Michael and Ben Potter; Rory and Eric Biskupski and Nick, Pete and Claire MacLeod.

She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters (Joan Chisholm, Agnes Forsythe and Anne Stark) and her former husband, George G. Imrie.

Many thanks to everyone who provided care at Drummond Hall and Melville Heights and to Dr. Valerie Lewis. Special thanks to Sheila West and Kathleen Finn-Vaughan for their compassion and humour.

No visitation. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service in celebration of Betty’s life will be held in the Chapel at J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax on Saturday August 18, 2012 at 2:00 pm. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Society of Canada (www.arthritis.ca) or a charity of choice. Please visit: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com