Mary Betts

Mary Betts (nee Thomas) passed away peacefully at home on November 29th in her 85th year with family by her side. She had been battling cancer and renal disease.

She is predeceased by her husband Donald Benson (Don), her parents, J. Frederick James (Jim) and Beatrice Maude (Bea) Thomas, and her two brothers in-law and sisters- in-law, David and Wendy and John and Annie Betts. She is survived by her children, Sheldon (Cathy) of Ottawa, Susan (David) of Vancouver, and Karen (Steve) of Vernon, BC. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Dylan, Morgan, Ryan, Shane, Michael, Andrew, and Lizzie, great grandchildren Chloe, Cooper and Georgia, nieces and nephews and her siblings Betty Jane (Bruce) Neill, Fred (Ski)Thomas, and Peter (Elaine) Thomas.

Mary grew up in Manotick and in 1962 graduated as a nurse from the Ottawa Civic Hospital. In the same year she married Don and they moved to London, Ontario while Don completed his MBA. In 1964 they moved to Toronto, followed by Montreal and finally settled in Oakville where they raised their 3 children.

Mary studied liberal arts (1979) and media writing (1981) at Sheridan College. Mary was very creative and enjoyed writing fiction, painting, playing violin and piano. She also enjoyed singing. 

In the early 70”s Don and Mary built a family cottage alongside her siblings cottages on Bob’s Lake, Ontario. Many enjoyable summers were spent with family and friends making it a very special place for the Thomas/Betts family. 

In 1990 Mary and Don moved back to Ottawa due to Mary’s heart condition and she received a successful heart transplant at the Ottawa Heart Institute in 1996.

Mary enjoyed curling at the Granite Curling Club and playing golf at Cedarhill. She sang with the choir at Fallowfield United Church and enjoyed her get-togethers with her many groups of friends. 

Mary will always be remembered for being kind, generous, strong, positive, thoughtful and loving with a wonderful sense of humour.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the cottage next summer for family. Mary and Don’s ashes will be buried together next summer in Don’s home town, Millerton, New Brunswick.

Memorial donations may be made to The Ottawa Heart Institute.