ELIZABETH (BETTY) NOREEN SANDERS

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ELIZABETH (BETTY) NOREEN SANDERS Peacefully, in her sleep, Elizabeth (Betty) Noreen Sanders died Monday, November 29, 2004 in her Rosewood Village home at the age of 83. Betty was born August 21, 1921 in Peterborough, ON. She grew up in Montreal and Saskatoon before moving to Thunder Bay, ON where she met her husband Ed working in the offices at the Canada Car factory during the Second World War. Betty was predeceased by her infant son Stephen in 1960; her husband Ed in 1990 and her brother Pat OBrien of Mississauga, ON in 1998. Betty is survived by her 11 children and their partners, Trish Sanders and Steve Wilshaw of Tasmania, Jim and Anne Sanders, Elaine Sanders and Steve Ecclestone of Toronto, Mary and Brian Clerihew, Cathy and Dave Sinclair, Bernice and Ted Cottingham of Thunder Bay, ON, Ellen and Doug Palmerton, Susan and Fraser Woodward, John Sanders and Robin Fewings, Mike Sanders and Terry Eastoe of Saskatoon and Carol Sanders and Jim Timlick. Betty is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; her sister and brother, Sister Jackie OBrien of North Bay, ON and Father Michael OBrien of Woodstock, ON and "her friend of 100 years", Muriel Quirk. Betty was a patient, caring and generous woman who always made room in her home and her heart for people - from foster children to adults who were in need of a place to stay. Betty liked to quote Mother Theresa: "We can do no great things; only small things with great love." Betty was the kind of mom who would pick the kidney beans out of chili for a choosy child and carry a tray full of coffee on school mornings to her five teenage daughters on the third floor of the family home at 909 Dorchester. When Bettys children were grown, her nurturing didnt stop. She took jobs caring for the physically and developmentally disabled in Winnipeg and in Saskatoon. And Mom took time to take care of herself. After retirement, she and Ed moved to Ignace, ON and spent their summers fishing at Turtle Lake and winters visiting with family. Following Eds death, Betty lived with family in Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, went camping in the Rockies, made chocolates with her grandkids and miraculously, without fail, produced parking spots near the door in the busiest parking lots for whichever daughter was lucky enough to have mom along for the ride. Betty travelled around the world with her best friend, Muriel, including a trip to Turkey following the footsteps of St. Paul. Faith was a big part of Bettys long and exemplary life. She wrote for the Prairie Messenger newspaper, visited the Vatican, volunteered with the Vincent de Paul Society in Thunder Bay, ON and was an active member of St. Agnes parish there and in Winnipeg at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church and later at St. Bedes Anglican Church. Bettys family would like to thank everyone at Rosewood Village and the Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts on Ness Avenue who made her feel so welcome during the four years she lived there. Thanks also to Perry, her hair stylist, who kept her so well coiffed. Bettys funeral service will take place Friday, December 3 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Bedes, Turner Avenue and Mount Royal, with Rev. Jamie Howison officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 1080 Portage Ave. would be appreciated. Interment will take place this summer in Thunder Bay next to her beloved husband Ed and infant son Stephen.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2004