Betty Bowes Eulogy
EULOGY FOR BETTY BOWES, FEBRUARY 8/06
Youngest of 8 children. She born Mary Elizabeth(Betty) Gillespie, Oct. 23, 1927
Immediate family- Husband, predeceased her in 2000, two daughters, Six grand children and four great grand children. Her two daughters, Maxine and Connie and other family members were privileged to spend a lot of quality time with mom during her last days. True to her character, her concern was for the family- were they eating and sleeping enough? Connie and Maxine were at mom’s side when she slipped from this life to the next. This was as she wished. I only had the privilege of knowing Betty Bowes for a relatively short time, 8 year?, but I concur with what one of her children wrote, “SHE WAS ONE VERY SPECIAL LADY!!” We have lots to say about this “Very special lady.”
She requested that we not be sad, but look upon this occasion as a grand Farewell Party.
Betty grew up in Ayr, Ontario. After her schooling, she worked in a shoe factory in Galt.
While visiting in Blyth with two of her sisters, Sadie and Marg, she met Irvin Bowes. They were married in 1948 and remained so until Irvin’s death in May 2000.
She worked again outside the home much later. In early 70s, Irvin opened Bowes Electronic Shop and Betty worked there as a store clerk till Irvin retired in 1987.
A SPIRITUAL PERSON
Betty was a member of the Blyth United Church and always spoke highly of the relationships she had made there. When I used to visit her she would tell me about going sometimes to the Blyth Community Church of God and while I was ministering in Stratford, it was always a pleasure to have her come to the Church of Christ -when she spent time with Maxine and family. I also enjoyed talking Bible in her home.
A SERVANT PERSON
All or most all of her Gillespie brothers saw active duty during WW 2 and Betty was a long standing member of the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary. In her early years, Betty was known for her baking and as a hostess. Had someone over for dinner almost every weekend. If she found out that some poor soul was to be alone for Christmas she would invite them over to join their family.
A SELFLESS PERSON
The moment she heard that her girls were expecting babies, Betty got busy buying gifts for the new grand baby. Always called her children and grandchildren on birthdays and anniversaries. This even extended to nieces, nephews and other relatives. She had family birthday parties complete with candy and toy-filled pinatas for her great grand children. One of her girls captured the thought best. She said, “Mom had a smiling face, infectious laughter, kind and gentle spirit and always cared more for the welfare of others than herself.” Betty gave money to Vernon so that he could provide meals and other family needs after she has passed away. She also gave Connie money to be used to buy gifts for any future grand children that may arrive on the scene.
A FUN LOVING PERSON
“Her focus has always been home, family and friends.” Whenever possible, Betty was up for a good time, especially if that good time involved people, and even more so, if those people were her people. With two daughters and six grandchildren there were many wedding to be a part of within the family. She loved them. She always looked forward to the Gillespie family picnic held the third Sunday of August each year. She reveled in visiting with her relatives from oldest to youngest and had to be very ill to miss it. She really enjoyed watching the races and candy scrabble for the kids and would cheer them on. She was able to be there in 2005.
A LOVER OF OTHERS
Connie said, “Mom loved babies and children and scores of children in the Blyth area referred to her as Grandma Bowes”.
She not only was affectionately called “Grandma” by those outside her family, but “Mom” by at least one young girl. When Connie was 12 she began taking an area baby for walks. This was baby Darlene Glousher. She became like a family member. She called Betty Bowes “Mom”. “Mom” Betty got to see Darlene happily married last Spring.
Betty Bowes always loved children and wanted 10 of her own. However, by the time she and Irvin got married in 1948 they were fearful that there would be no babies, since Betty had formerly suffered from large ovarian cysts which were removed, but the doctors forewarned her of possible sterility. And along came Maxine, then Connie, then 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Betty loved the good things in life. They had names: Irvin, Maxine, Connie,Christine, Karen, John Jr, Maridale, Aaron, Russell, Kaleb, Nathan, Alana, Keiisha, John Brush and Vernon Bromley. Then there is a whole forest of family trees who have no blood or marital relation to Betty. She just loved good folks. This meant she had good friends- Jean Hall, a life long friend. They grew up living beside one another; attended school together; stood up at each other’s weddings; have kept in touch by phone and personal visits. When Betty and Jean along with other cherished friends, like Ollie Pumphrey, May Fogel and Mary Quigley, would meet at a restaurant, it was for an old fashioned “gabfest”. They did this as recently as August 2004. It is a commendable characteristic to put such a high value on people against a backdrop of media hype about the importance of things
During my visits with Betty she used to talk about the things that were truly important to her. While I already knew Maxine’s family, I give you my word that I heard of Maridale, Aaron and Russell and the great grandchildren from Betty’s lips.
She would point to her videos and casually remark that one or some of the grand kids or great grand kids had been over to watch them with her.
Betty would mention going to Goderich shopping with Aaron, Jamie and family.
She enjoyed having her nails manicured by Christine, her hair cut by Karen and her feet massaged by Maridale.
She and Johnny would play Battleship when she would visit the Brushs’ for the weekend.
Not sure you knew about another man in Betty’s life after the passing of her husband of 52 years. Apparently she was not his only girlfriend as he referred to her as his “favorite girl friend” . He would give Betty back rubs, sometimes cook her a meal and served it by candlelight! He was a younger man. His name was Russell Bromley.
Maxine wrote, “Mom had been ill much of the time for the last four months, but managed to maintain her love of life and buoyant sense of humor. We would hear a cheerful ‘Hello Sweetheart’ whenever Connie or I came to visit her in the hospital.”
We are in the presence of a loving woman and a loved woman. God has blessed many by the one.
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