Elizabeth "Betty" Carscadden

We really appreciate everyone who made such an effort to be here. We are all glad that we are finally able to have this celebration of life for Mom, Elizabeth Joan Carscadden.

I was wondering how many people, when I said Elizabeth Joan, would think they might not be in the right place

Now, if I said Betty, I think I would hear,

-Oh. Betty!

-I know Betty!

-I made a quilt with Betty

-I made centrepieces with Betty

-I did ceramics with Betty

-I made meat pies with Betty.

I sure appreciated those. I was always sent to university with a cooler filled with frozen meat pies, on a bus to Sudbury.

She was also that troublemaker who sat in the choir between Nicolene and Marla.

It’s funny how we went from her shushing us as kids down there in the congregation, to me shushing her up here in the choir. I think she even stuck her tongue out at me

She had 3 boys and I’m not sure she was ready for that. We were pretty active, and we didn’t think Mom liked it, and she worried about all of our activities.

She told me a story of watching a football game and seeing Dave get tackled. She said that she heard this crazy woman running down the sideline yelling ‘don’t hurt my baby’, and then she said she realized it was her.

Or when I would find her sitting in the dark living room with tears running down her face when Dave‘s football games were on TV.

In fact, when our son Keith told her he was going to play football in high school, she said she would buy him a violin and pay for the lessons.

There was another time when I got a call from her, in tears, telling me that Mark had been in a motorcycle accident, and I rushed home to see him coming out the door saying, ‘I’m fine, Andy’

Whenever we would go in to emergency, the nurse would say ‘Oh, hello Mrs. Carscadden, which one is it today?’

Even when she was in hospice at ARCH, she was worrying about us. Sharon recently showed me some messages she found between her and Mom on April 5th, 2020 when Mark, Dave, and I were able to visit and sing to her with Dad. This was early Covid and only Dad was allowed inside.

She didn’t really understand that. She said ‘why? Are they worried I’ll get sick?

I mentioned earlier her reaction to football, and we really didn’t think she understood all of our activities, but her great sense of humour came through, and she showed us she understood more than we thought.

Dave was getting ready for a 100m race. He was not the best starter in the field, and had likely been lamenting that fact, when Mom went up to him and said, ‘now David, when the man says go, don’t ask why, just go!’

I think her sense of humour helped her when she was teaching out in Heyden too.

I actually keep running into people from there who talk very fondly of her.

Anyway, I remember her coming home one day and telling me about a note she got for a child’s absence, telling me that when she read it she wasn’t sure if they missed school because of a sore throat, a sore toe, or they caught a trout.

Mark reminded me of a time Mom was in the hospital for surgery, and had to go to the bathroom. The nurse came in the room, to find Mom on her hands and knees on the bed, fiddling with the side rail. She said, ‘what are you doing?’. Mom said, ‘I have to go to the bathroom!’. So the nurse said that she could only go if she held onto Mark’s arm.

Mom took his arm, and when they got to the door, Mom pulled away, looked at him and said, ‘watch this!’, and went skipping down the hall, with Mark behind her, yelling ‘Mom!

She was also extremely talented at any arts and crafts project she decided to try.

Knitting, sewing, ceramics, painting, embroidery. She did it all and with a high degree of skill. I know I walk through the house and think, ‘Mom made that’.

Quilts, ceramics, Xmas decorations, clothes when the kids were little, so many things. They are all treasured items in all of our houses

There are also many examples of her talents here in the church. There are quilts, stained glass, centrepieces, a variety of wonderful things.

She was a special person with a great smile, laugh, and she cared about everyone she met. I hope we can all follow that example.

She was fortunate to have a great partner in Dad, and they supported each other for 60 years.

Andy

* * * * * * * * * *

CARSCADDEN, Elizabeth Joan “Betty” (née Agnew) - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Wife, Mom, and Grandma, Betty Carscadden, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2020 at 82 years of age.

Betty was the loving wife of Alan Carscadden for 60 years. Devoted Mother to Andy (Sharon Doyle) of Windsor, Mark (Laurie Jackson) of Georgetown, and David (Lissa Mount) of Barrie. She will be forever cherished by her grandchildren, Amanda and Keith, Cailyn and Liam, and Jack and Alexa. Betty was the daughter of the late John Charles “Charlie” Agnew and the late Jane Scott “Jennie” Agnew (Acheson), and was predeceased by her brothers William “Bill” (Barbara) and John Agnew. Daughter-in-law of the late John Melville “Mel” Carscadden and the late Mabel Eunice Marie Carscadden (Ewing). Sister-in-law of Terry Carscadden (Sylvia), and the late Robert “Bob” Carscadden (Norma). She had treasured connections with her many aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoyed the wonderful tradition of gathering together for birthday dinners. She will also be fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews. Betty was an exceptional kindergarten teacher with the Sault Ste. Marie Board of Education, spending many of her teaching years at Aweres Public School. She was also artistically gifted and incredibly skilled at crafts. Many examples of her work can be found proudly displayed in the homes of her loved ones, as well as at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she spent her worship time. She was often heard singing around the house, and she added her clear soprano voice to the choir at Westminster in her later years. We will miss her sense of humour which brightened every gathering.

A Memorial Service is to be held in Westminster Presbyterian Church on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10:30 am. Reverends Charlene and John Wilson officiating with a reception to follow. Afterwards the graveside service will take place at Greenwood Cemetery. Friends are invited to view the service online starting at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 30, 2022 and can be viewed anytime up to 90 days. Go to www.funeraweb.tv and select Elizabeth's name to view the service. In lieu of flowers, donations (payable by cheque or online) to A.R.C.H., SAH Foundation or to Westminster Presbyterian Church would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. East (705) 759-2522. Arrangements entrusted to the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St East, 705-759-2522).