MARY BETH (BETTY) CLARK (WILLIAMS)

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MARY BETH (BETTY) CLARK (nee WILLIAMS) Peacefully, on Saturday December 22, 2007, at the age of 90, Mary Beth Clark passed away at Riverview Health Centre with her family at her side. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Eric Clark, as well as her siblings, David Carlton Williams, John (Jack) F. Williams, and earlier this year by her beloved sister Ruth Ann Matheson. Left to mourn are her sister-in-law Sylvia Bert Williams; nephew Terry Matheson (Pat); great-nieces Suzanne (Matthew) and Lesley; niece Holly Barkman (Doug); cousin Bill Dempsey (Evelyn); sons, John (Martin) and Ken (Pam); grandchildren, Christopher Clark (Clarissa), Jonathan Clark (Dana), and her favourite granddaughter Juliette Patricia Clark, along with great-grandchildren, Ariel, Erica, Alexa, Hendrix, and the baby, Jonathan William Clark. Betty was born in Winnipeg in 1917, daughter of John and Anna Williams. She had a wonderful childhood with many friends some of whom she kept her whole life. She spoke frequently of summers spent at the MLA Camp on the Lake of the Woods that was operated by her parents and provided a lifetime of good memories. She graduated from Gordon Bell High School and went on to United College (now University of Winnipeg) where she earned her BA in 1937. She then went off to library school at the University of Toronto where she met new lifetime friends and graduated with her Bachelor of Library Science in 1939. After working in the medical library at the University of Manitoba she moved to Ottawa to work in the health and welfare library. She met her husband Eric on a return trip to Winnipeg by train from Ottawa. They were married in 1948 and raised their two sons in St. James. Betty was a pioneer among modern women balancing a career and family. She returned to work at the St. James Public Library where she became the cataloguer and again made many more friends before moving to the Winnipeg Public Library where she was the head of cataloguing for the Centennial Library and all of the branches and, just as importantly, gained more lasting friendships. Special times in summer were spent with the family at Redditt, Ontario. After retirement and the loss of her husband Eric, Betty remained active in the St. James United Church with the UCW and maintaining the church library with her dear friend Edith Young. She took great joy in seeing her grandchildren grow up and was positively thrilled at the arrival of the great-grandchildren whom she adored. She enjoyed European travel with her sister Ruth, a trip to England with her son John, and a trip to Ireland with her friend Betty Manning (Lough). For her 85th birthday her son Ken and Pam took her to Hawaii and for her 90th, to New York with Pam's mom, Marge. This year her son John took her to Victoria in the spring and back to Redditt for a lovely week this summer. Betty's love of literature and theatre was always evident. She was a subscriber to Manitoba Theatre Centre for the entire 50 years of its existence and an avid reader all her life. Even towards the very end she couldn't ask for a sip of water without reciting Coleridge. She recited so many verses at Riverview one of her nurses, Tony, called her Mrs. Rhymer . Special thanks to the entire staff of 3 East at Riverview Health Centre for their exceptionally professional and compassionate care. Also, heartfelt thanks to family physician Dr. Judy Komosky for her care and personal warmth. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 29 at 11:00 am in St. James United Church, 234 Parkview Street with Reverend Bev Ward officiating. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to St. James United Church, or Riverview Health Centre Foundation, 1 Morley Ave. E., Winnipeg R3L 2P4. Thomson In the ParK Funeral Home and Cemetery www.thomsoninthepark.com 925-1120 Life stories may be shared with friends and family across the globe at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 27, 2007