Betty Cunningham (Née Parsons)

“Out of Mirror Lake”, a novel based in the Eastern Townships was published in 2016. The book received 4.3 / 5 stars on Goodreads and is still available on Amazon. The author, Betty Cunningham was 86 years old at the time of publication, and planning a sequel!

Betty passed away peacefully at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe Claire, QC, on August 14, 2024 at age 94. She lived a long happy life filled with family, love, laughter, travel, the occasional adventure, a touch of mischief and a lifelong passion for writing.

A proud daughter of the Eastern Townships, Betty was born in Barnston and grew up there on the family farm, later in Lennoxville and Coaticook. She was the beloved daughter of the late Albert and Edith Parsons (Mayhew) and the fourth of five siblings. Donna, June, Angus and Graydon have since passed, but if their stories are to be believed, were all quite a handful for Albert and Edith.

After high school, seeking more adventure than the Townships could offer, Betty moved to Montreal to study at the Phillips School of Nursing, graduating in 1951 with her R.N. She worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Victorian Order of Nurses. Betty was very proud of her nursing career and maintained life-long friendships with her nursing classmates, frequently getting together over the years.

While working as a nurse, Betty met her late husband Alan, who predeceased her in 2009. They shared 55 loving years together and according to family lore, first crossed paths when he famously crashed a dinner party she was hosting. Together they raised five children and she will be missed by Thomas (Catherine) of Emsdale ON, Andrea of Saint John NB, Neil (Lynda) of Mansonville QC, William (Amy) of Hilton Head Island, SC, Martha (Ronald McGillvray) of Kanata ON and former daughter-in-law, Anne Smith.

Betty and Alan built a joyful life and family together, creating happy homes in Montreal West, Beaurepaire and their beloved Golf Avenue in Pointe Claire. At home, Betty ran a tight ship. Driving to countless soccer, baseball and hockey practices, she also became the Junior Captain at Beaconsfield Golf Club and later served as the Ladies’ Captain and President, while continuing her volunteer work as a VON Nurse. In an unexpected turn, Betty’s mischievous streak led her to embark on a successful career as a real estate agent. She embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, and before long, steadily climbed the Royal LePage Leaderboard.

Along the way, Betty’s children started their own families and at the time of her passing, she held claim to 7 grandchildren, who all miss their beloved “Grandma” Alexander (Alyssa), Graham, Jennifer, James, Grace, Greta, and Harrison.

The travel bug bit both Betty and Alan and they eagerly pulled their five kids along for the adventures, which included a five week car sojourn in 1970 that toured England, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In addition to trips to England for Alan’s business, there was a Danube cruise where they visited Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria and Germany. They also embarked on unforgettable journeys to Australia and New Zealand together. At age 80, Betty went on safari in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Bucket list moments included a helicopter tour of Victoria Falls and seeing the bushmen of the Kalahari up close. The next year, at the age of 81, a tour across Canada by rail, solo, a trip which included another memorable helicopter ride over the Columbia icefield.

Betty and Alan had a special fondness for Hilton Head Island, SC, and spent their later years wintering there. They enjoyed and looked forward to hosting their children and grandchildren and sharing their love for the island.

In her final years, this daughter of the Townships returned to Mansonville, taking up residence just 30 or so kilometers from Barnston. There she could sit out in the sun, staring up at the same sky she saw as a girl and with Owls’ Head and Memphremagog in full view, receiving visitors, knitting, sharing memories and occasionally watching Jeopardy, as the “Reine Mere” we all knew her to be.

Betty lived a vibrant, fulfilling life. She lived on her own terms, fiercely independent, never shy with an opinion, and always generous with her love and support and we all miss her very much.

The family would especially like to thank Lynda for her enormous efforts in looking after mum at the farm in Mansonville as well as helpers and caregivers Murray, Jo-Ann, Lindy and Sue and Madelaine from the Mansonville CLSC.

The family is grateful for the excellent care and compassion she received on 4-North at the Lakeshore General Hospital during the few weeks she was there.

Visitations will take place at the Collins Clarke MacGillivray White funeral home (5610 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal QC H4A1W5, a private parking lot is available in the back of the funeral home on Marcil street) on August 26th, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on August 27th, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. A celebration of her life will take place at the funeral home chapel on August 27th, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Collins Clarke MacGillivray White will webcast the funeral ceremony of Betty Cunningham on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 from 12:40 PM EDT to 2:40 PM EDT. You can view the ceremony live or on replay at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/97023

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada would be greatly appreciated.

https://alzheimer.ca/en/take-action/make-your-donation-today