Nov 4, 1918 - Jan 7, 2018
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Betty Smythies. She died in the early evening of January 7th after a long battle with old age.
Katherine Elizabeth Brydie Smythies (nee Gardner) was born 1 week before the end of the first world war, on November 4th, 1918, in Yorkton Saskatchewan. She was raised in Montreal and attended Stanstead boarding school, where she excelled at ice hockey, field hockey and basketball.
Betty graduated from the Montreal General Hospital school of Nursing in 1941. She joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a nursing sister in February 1945, where she met and married Charles Smythies on December 9th, 1947 in Victoria. She left the navy in December 1948 to raise their children.
The family of 7 moved to Nanaimo in 1965, where Charles ran a successful land surveying business and Betty ran the home. Betty was also a very active volunteer in the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Auxiliary, serving as president and various other positions. She organized many "work parties" and events, continuing well into her 80's.
She also volunteered weekly as an admitting hostess and was an active volunteer in the Nanaimo Life line program. Betty loved to knit and sew and made many sweaters and blankets for her family and arriving grandchildren. A good game of bridge was always welcome recreation.
Betty is predeceased by her husband and best friend, Charles in 1981.
She is survived by her 5 children (George, Barbara Windecker, Dave, Doug, Rob) their spouses, 13 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
We celebrate a life well lived, and are better for having been part of it.
At Betty's request, there will be no service.
Her ashes will be scattered at sea where her husband's have already been for 36 years.