Mary Elizabeth McKeon

Of Toronto, died peacefully on January 31, 2008, surrounded by love in her 84th year. Bette's presence in the lives of her family, her many friends throughout the world, her colleagues in the teaching profession and her associates in the arts and music fields was cherished by everyone. Bette was the eldest child of the late James McKeon and Callista McKeon and is survived by her siblings Louis (Mary), James (Renate), the late Frederick (Natalie), Patricia, Jack (Rickie), Jill (the late Desmond) and Barry (Mary). She was the devoted aunt to 16 nieces and nephews and a true friend to her cousins, Peggy McKeon and Mary McKeon (Charles), and to her devoted friend Jane Mahut.

Bette was a graduate of Loretto Academy in Hamilton and in 1946 graduated from McMaster University in Honours English. She then took up a teaching career in High Schools in Toronto. She was a female "Mr. Chips", in her love of English and her influence on her many students at High Schools in Toronto. This was recognized when the student body at Sir Sandford Fleming High School in Toronto, upon learning that she was switching to another High School for personal reasons, on their own, rented a billboard in mid Toronto with the inscription "Happiness is Miss McKeon" on it.

She will be greatly missed by her family, and her multitude of friends in her many clubs and activities, in Toronto and around the world. She was an ardent supporter of the Arts, especially the TSO, Stratford and the Shaw, all of whom benefited from her support during her life and through bequests which she has made.

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 4, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home (6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding, south of Steeles). This will be followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. and reception afterwards at St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church (39 Green Lane, Thornhill). In lieu of flowers, donations in Bette's memory can be made to St. Luke's Church to support children's activities.