Obituary of Elizabeth (Betty) Ethel TROWELL (nee Shipton)

March 11, 1930 – East York, Ontario
October 9, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Betty Trowell, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, passed away peacefully at the age of 90, surrounded by family in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, October 9, 2020. Born in East York, Ontario, she was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Elsie Shipton; her brother Ernie (Mary), and her sister Noreen (John). She is survived by her devoted husband of sixty-eight years, William (Bill); her sons, Thomas (Judith) and Paul (Heather); beloved grandchildren Michael (Kristen), Lisa, Allison (Peter), and Eryn (Christian); her sister Shirley (Robert deceased); as well as numerous nieces and nephews and her great-grandpuppies.  

Betty and Bill settled in Scarborough, Ontario to raise their family. She volunteered at the boys’ elementary school library and was a cafeteria matron at their junior high school before moving on to administrative work at Crown Life. Upon retirement, Betty and Bill followed their boys two Calgary to be with their grandchildren.

Family and friends meant everything to Betty. Gatherings at Christmas, News Year’s, and Birthdays were her favourite times of the year and created lasting, fond memories.

Betty was a humble, kind, gentle soul who was solidly and morally grounded and showed tremendous courage in her final years. She was dearly loved and will be sadly missed by all those who knew her.

In Betty’s active years, she enjoyed tennis, bowling, camping, and cottage life at Bon Echo Lake and Lake Kawagama in Ontario. She had a zest for life and was game for almost anything including: water slides, tubing, movie and game nights, road trips, lunch dates, and shopping.  Betty loved nothing more than to soak up the sun with a cold Coca-Cola and box of Laura Secord chocolates. She loved flowers. Tulips and carnations were her favorite. Betty was famous for fruit pies and butter tarts. 

Betty cherished her grandchildren. She rarely missed a graduation, piano and dance recitals; baseball, soccer, football, rugby games or a day at the Zoo or Heritage Park. Many Saturdays you could find Bill and Betty at the ski slopes hoping to catch a glimpse of the grandkids skiing. She also enjoyed knitting and scrapbooking for them. She was so proud of their participation and accomplishments. Betty was their best cheerleader. 

Later in life Betty enjoyed her travels. All of her trips were to see or be with family. Those trips included Scotland, Holland, Belgium, France, Las Vegas, a Caribbean Cruise, and many road trips to Ponderosa Point Resort and Whistler, BC.

Due to Covid, a Private Family Service will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Crowfoot) on Friday, October 16, 2020. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Elizabeth’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Parkinson Canada, https://www.parkinson.ca/,  the Salvation Army, 1731 29th Street SW Calgary, AB, T3C 1M6, www.salvationarmy.ca, Telephone: 403-410-1112, or  Dulcina Hospice, 110 Evanspark Manor N.W., Calgary, Alberta T3P 0N4 Telephone: 587-230-5500.

The family would like to express thanks for the compassionate care provided by Foothills Medical Centre, Bayshore Health Care, and Dulcina Hospice.

In living memory of Elizabeth Trowell, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.