Betty Hookway
1915-04-29 2013-10-28
HOOKWAY, Betty (Bessie Alma Bartholomew) April 29, 1915 - October 28, 2013
It was a full life, lived well and long. With dignity and peace, and still of very sound mind and clarity of thought, Betty passed away on October 28, 2013 at the age of 98.
Known for her cheerfulness and positive attitude, Betty was a good listener with a special ability for helping others talk through their challenges and find the path to their own decisions. She remained quite independent in her own home until a fall in September 2008 and after a month in hospital, moved to Prairie Spring Intermediate Care Home for a year and a half and after a serious bout of pneumonia and a six week hospitalization, was moved to Extendicare, a long-term care facility quite close to the Cairns Avenue neighborhood where she lived for so many years.
Betty received her education at Mayfair School, Bedford Road Collegiate and Saskatoon Technical School. She was employed by the T. Eaton Company for a number of years prior to her marriage to Sterling in 1940. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August, 1990.
She was an active member of the Christ Church Dramatic Society and Saskatoon Tech Drama Group, taking a number of leading roles in plays, "Open Lit" nights, skits and singing. She always enjoyed these activities and the good, long-lasting friendships that were formed. She was an Explorer leader at Bethel United Church for several years and thrived on mentoring this pre-teen group. For over 20 years, Betty was a member of the Neighborhood Bridge Club formed in 1951, and was a keen, strategic player. Members changed over the years but wonderful fellowships remained. They played high level bridge but also enjoyed much laughter and cared about each other deeply. Betty and Sterling enjoyed ballroom, square and round dancing and belonged to Cotton Capers, Swinging Skirts and Dudes and Dolls dance clubs for many years.
Betty is survived by only daughter Sandra (Al) Ritchie; sister-in-law Audrey Bartholomew; nieces and nephews Shirley Fenwick, Gloria Jones, Valerie Wiedrick, Shannon Van Elsakker, Carol Gossner, Rick, Rob, Stewart, John and Jim Bartholomew and their families; and is lovingly remembered by Al's family, Sharon, Allan, Doug and Heather Kerr and their families, Gail, Wayne, Alison, Drew and Mary Kells and close family friends Margaret and Gerhard Freund, Lynda Davis and Linda Roy.
Betty was predeceased by her parents, Ellen and William Bartholomew; husband Sterling; brothers Bill and Bob; sisters Patricia and Kathleen; sisters-in-law Helen Hookway, Ida Hookway Croteau, Alice and Beatrice Rhoden, Florence Cluff, Phyllis Bartholomew; brothers-in-law Perc and Miles Hookway, Harry and Charles Rhoden; nephews Dean Rhoden and Howard Bartholomew.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Extendicare for their respectful care in the three years Betty resided with them and also extend a special thanks to long-time family physician Dr. Donald Stefiuk for his gentle care and good humor. He and Betty could always make each other laugh.
A Celebration of Betty's life will be held on Monday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Saskatoon Funeral Home, 338 - 4th Avenue North with a reception to follow at the Edwards Family Centre across the street. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre or to the donor's charity of choice.
It was a full life, lived well and long. With dignity and peace, and still of very sound mind and clarity of thought, Betty passed away on October 28, 2013 at the age of 98.
Known for her cheerfulness and positive attitude, Betty was a good listener with a special ability for helping others talk through their challenges and find the path to their own decisions. She remained quite independent in her own home until a fall in September 2008 and after a month in hospital, moved to Prairie Spring Intermediate Care Home for a year and a half and after a serious bout of pneumonia and a six week hospitalization, was moved to Extendicare, a long-term care facility quite close to the Cairns Avenue neighborhood where she lived for so many years.
Betty received her education at Mayfair School, Bedford Road Collegiate and Saskatoon Technical School. She was employed by the T. Eaton Company for a number of years prior to her marriage to Sterling in 1940. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August, 1990.
She was an active member of the Christ Church Dramatic Society and Saskatoon Tech Drama Group, taking a number of leading roles in plays, "Open Lit" nights, skits and singing. She always enjoyed these activities and the good, long-lasting friendships that were formed. She was an Explorer leader at Bethel United Church for several years and thrived on mentoring this pre-teen group. For over 20 years, Betty was a member of the Neighborhood Bridge Club formed in 1951, and was a keen, strategic player. Members changed over the years but wonderful fellowships remained. They played high level bridge but also enjoyed much laughter and cared about each other deeply. Betty and Sterling enjoyed ballroom, square and round dancing and belonged to Cotton Capers, Swinging Skirts and Dudes and Dolls dance clubs for many years.
Betty is survived by only daughter Sandra (Al) Ritchie; sister-in-law Audrey Bartholomew; nieces and nephews Shirley Fenwick, Gloria Jones, Valerie Wiedrick, Shannon Van Elsakker, Carol Gossner, Rick, Rob, Stewart, John and Jim Bartholomew and their families; and is lovingly remembered by Al's family, Sharon, Allan, Doug and Heather Kerr and their families, Gail, Wayne, Alison, Drew and Mary Kells and close family friends Margaret and Gerhard Freund, Lynda Davis and Linda Roy.
Betty was predeceased by her parents, Ellen and William Bartholomew; husband Sterling; brothers Bill and Bob; sisters Patricia and Kathleen; sisters-in-law Helen Hookway, Ida Hookway Croteau, Alice and Beatrice Rhoden, Florence Cluff, Phyllis Bartholomew; brothers-in-law Perc and Miles Hookway, Harry and Charles Rhoden; nephews Dean Rhoden and Howard Bartholomew.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Extendicare for their respectful care in the three years Betty resided with them and also extend a special thanks to long-time family physician Dr. Donald Stefiuk for his gentle care and good humor. He and Betty could always make each other laugh.
A Celebration of Betty's life will be held on Monday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Saskatoon Funeral Home, 338 - 4th Avenue North with a reception to follow at the Edwards Family Centre across the street. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre or to the donor's charity of choice.