ROBERTA JANICE BANISTER (BETTY) -

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ROBERTA JANICE BANISTER (BETTY) 1926 - 2001 Peacefully at the Riverview Health Centre on Thursday, January 25, 2001, Bettys passing is mourned by her son Ron, his wife Lynne and granddaughters, Shannon and Lisa; daughter Catharine MacKay, her husband Ian and grandson Angus of Saskatoon; her sisters, Isobel McGibney of Saskatoon and Helen Rothwell of Vancouver; brothers, Gordon Willson of Vancouver and Howard Willson and his wife Marg of Moosomin, SK; and many nieces and nephews. Betty was one of many young mothers who contracted polio in the fall of 1953. Since that time she has been a resident of the Riverview Health Centre (formerly the King George Municipal Hospital). In spite of her paralysis and respiratory problems, Betty enjoyed life and participated in it as fully as she could. She particularly enjoyed the Christmas parties at the Fort Osborne Barracks and the Halloween costume parties in the physiotherapy gym of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. She enjoyed and appreciated visits by celebrities passing through Winnipeg, especially the Deep River Boys. Betty became a successful award-winning artist holding the paintbrush interlaced through her paralysed fingers. She typed and re-typed several drafts of her book, "Trapped: A Polio Victims Fight for Life" holding the pencil the same way and hitting the typewriter keys with the rubber eraser. In 1962 she and another resident, Mae Salmon, in a pioneering adventure on behalf of paraplegics everywhere, set off to Vancouver for a visit. Jet travel for people with disabilities was unheard of in those days. More recently, when the residents wheelchair van needed replacing a few years ago, Betty was highly instrumental in fundraising not only money for a new van, but money to build a garage in which to store it. Betty has enjoyed shopping at all of the major malls in Winnipeg and dining at many restaurants in the city and many of the surrounding communities. During summer months, Betty would negotiate her electric wheelchair with its onboard respirator around the Riverview neighbourhood meeting people and making friends wherever she went. As the years went by, Betty became almost on institution around the hospital. Residents and staff often came to her for advice, opinion or simply to talk. In her 47 years at the hospital, Betty was a constant inspiration to everyone who knew her. She will be missed by the many people who loved her. The family would like to thank all of the staff and all of the volunteers who over the last half-century have helped Betty in so many ways. The personal care, the hydrotherapy pool, the visits out to the community and beyond, could not have been possible without you. Cremation has already taken place according to Bettys wishes. A memorial service will be held at Riverview Health Centre Chapel on Sunday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. A brief reception will follow. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to The Polio 53 Club, in care of Riverview Health Centre, 1 Morley Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3L 2P4. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 27, 2001