Elisabeth Hamm

Elisabeth (Betty) Hamm (nee Hildebrand) passed away on November 24, 2024 at the Broadview Nursing Centre in Smiths Falls, ON with her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Greg by her side. She was 95 years old.

Betty was born on a farm near Rosenort, Manitoba and lived in Winnipeg as a child. At the age of 14, she moved with her family to Vineland, Ontario where she completed high school. She did her RN training at Toronto East General Hospital. In 1955 she married Peter Hamm, and together they spent 10 years as missionaries in South India with the Mennonite Brethren Mission.

In 1970, Betty and Peter returned to Canada settling primarily in Winnipeg where Betty nursed for many years at Concordia Hospital, both as a ward nurse and as supervisor. Betty retired from hospital nursing in 1989 at which time she and Peter began their last mission assignment among the African Independent churches in Liberia. They retired in Abbotsford, BC where Betty lived for 10 years staying there after Peter’s passing in 1993. During these years, Betty’s interest in missions and love for India led her to participate in several short-term mission trips with the Mennonite Brethren Conference in India.

In 2000, Betty moved back to Winnipeg to be closer to her family. In 2009, just before her 80th birthday, Betty married her second husband, Eugene Bright, and moved to Campbellford, ON. Betty and Eugene enjoyed 15 years of marriage before Eugene’s passing in April of 2024. The last couple of years they spent at Broadview Nursing Centre in Smiths Falls, ON.

Betty is predeceased by her parents Nicholas and Helena (nee Reimer) Hildebrand, all four of her siblings, Nick, Helen, Jake and Peter, her first husband, Peter Hamm, her son Richard, and her second husband, Eugene Bright. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Greg) Bright, her daughter-in-law Barb Hamm, her six grandchildren Jennifer (Lucy) Brandes, Rachel (Matt) Winkler, Karis (Jason) Dyck, Ryan (Shauna) Bright, Natalie (Akash) Tamang, Cherie (Ferral) LaDelle and 11 great grandchildren. She is also mourned by many members of the extended Hamm family, Bright family, and Hildebrand family. She cherished all her nieces, nephews and those who were related to her through both of her husbands.

A memorial service for friends and family in Ontario was held in November, 2024 at Lannin Funeral Home in Smiths Falls, ON. A Celebration of Life service was held at Friends Funeral Service in Winnipeg on Saturday, May 17, 2025. According to her wishes she will be buried with her first husband, Peter Hamm. A graveside service for the burial of the cremains will be held in Abbotsford, BC on July 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Maclure Rd Mennonite Cemetery, 33965 Maclure Rd, Abbotsford.