Anne Elizabeth Heyworth

After 106 wonderful years, our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother Anne Elizabeth Heyworth passed away peacefully on September 23, 2020. She will be greatly missed by her immediate family- daughters Susan, Sandy and Claire, their husbands, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends.

Beth, as she was known, was born on May 19, 1914 in Sidney, Manitoba, Canada. Beth’s father, T. Arthur Mosley, a British citizen had moved to Canada to attend theological seminary and begin his career as a minister. While in Canada, T. Arthur fell in love with and married Beth’s mother, Edith Mary Dewer.

After the start of WWI, Beth’s father returned to England to serve as a military chaplain. Beth and her mother remained in Canada with plans to join him in a few months. Unfortunately, her mother died shortly before they were to leave and Beth remained with her maternal grandparents until her father returned to Canada.

During her childhood, Beth lived in both Canada and England. She had many fond memories of her life in England where she was able to spend time with her English family. She felt fortunate to be able to reunite with her mother’s family when she was an adult.

At the age of 13 Beth and her family moved to the United States. After graduating from high school in Connecticut, she attended nursing school at Middlesex Hospital School of Nursing in Middletown. Her nursing program included classes at both Wesleyan and Yale Universities. In 1939 she graduated from nursing school specializing in obstetrical nursing.

On August 24, 1940 Beth married Ernest Heyworth, a young handsome engineer and the love of her life. After their honeymoon in Bar Harbor, ME, they settled in their new home in Cheshire, Connecticut. Beth began her career in nursing and worked until the birth of their first daughter, Susan Elizabeth. In 1945 the family moved to New Jersey where Beth remained a stay-at-home mom and their second daughter, Claire Louise, was born.

In 1948, the family returned to Cheshire and in 1952, their third daughter, Sandra Anne, arrived. Over the years, Beth worked in local hospitals, was director of a nursing home and served as a Public Health/School Nurse. Her life was enriched by her church and community activities, her garden, ceramics, hosting neighborhood picnics and family holiday celebrations as well as family camping vacations on Cape Cod, in Canada and along the east coast.

In 1962 the family moved to southern California and in 1964 Beth began working at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton. During her time at St. Jude she worked as a nursing supervisor and as the founding director of the in-patient alcohol rehabilitation unit where she remained until her retirement in 1980.

When Beth and Ernie retired they moved to Carlsbad. After Ernie’s death in 1987, Beth began to manage their rental properties. Several years later she moved to Laguna Woods and stayed very active with her business and social life. She was a member of the Laguna Presbyterian church and participated in community organizations. Beth loved dogs, was an avid reader (especially of Danielle Steel novels), appreciated antiques and enjoyed bridge. She readily embraced others and made many dear friends. Beth was full of energy, had a fun sense of humor, great style and an amazing memory.

Beth’s favorite and most important role was the role of proud and supportive mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her expanding family. “Nanny”, as she was known, was a great story teller and shared stories on a regular basis with her family and friends. She touched the lives of many and was often told that she was a role model and an example of how to live a long, healthy and meaningful life.

During her later years Beth celebrated life on a regular basis with her beloved family. Some of her favorite memories were of traveling to England and Scotland to visit with her English relatives, trips to see her brother in Nova Scotia, the “girl’s trips” to Martha’s Vineyard, where she had spent many summers, on her 80th and 90th birthdays, her 100th birthday gatherings surrounded by family and friends, and her COVID “drive-by” party, complete with dogs, signs and balloons, on her 106th birthday. Just a few weeks prior to her death she enjoyed a lovely luncheon in the garden with her family where she discussed the pandemic, recommended books and talked about voting in the next election. She spoke of happy memories and of course shared more stories, including some new ones.

Beth was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Ernest Heyworth, her half-brother, Ronald Mosley, half-sister, Barbara Mitchell and her granddaughter, Cindy Towle. She is survived by her daughters, Susan McGill, Claire Towle, and Sandy Cahill, their spouses, Rockney McGill, Dennis Towle, and Jack Cahill, and grandchildren, Holly McGill Andersen, Stephen Towle, Michael McGill, Lindsay Towle Riley, Allie Cahill Votava, Paul Cahill, their spouses and nine greatgrandchildren.

Her family will join together this fall to share stories and celebrate her incredible life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Saddleback Hospice (24411 Health Center Dr. Laguna Hills, CA 92653), Jessie Rees Foundation-NEGU (9701 Research Dr. # 150, Irvine, CA 92618), and the Laguna Presbyterian Church (415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651).