It's hard to know where to begin with Betty. Over my 21 plus years at West Hawk Lake, Betty, Pearce and "the family" were for many of us keenly awaited family. "The lake" and the West Hawk United Church did not feel complete without them. Pearce had this calm intense presence and Betty brought the music. The cottage was their "home" in so many ways. Here they gathered as family and with friends, laughing, sharing, always an open door from two people with open hearts.
I will never forget the Sunday that betty stopped in the middle of a hymn and said to the gathered folk, "All right people you are making a mess of this. We can do it. Now let's start all together again. This time we will get it right!" Both Pearce and Betty would beam (almost glowing) when David would arrive and consent to sing a solo.
Betty asked deep questions, raised difficult concerns. Every summer she would search her soul with courage and endless curiousity. As time passed I personally admired her in so many ways. Mostly because as the years she became more and more her "own" person. Often question were about life after death. "What does eternal really mean? Will we know we are dead when we die?" Little things like that!
Her greatest pride, joy concern and focus was always her children, their children and family. I will be with you all in spirit tomorrow as you let go of her body, and hold onto her essence of being. Women of her generation were truly pioneers of self-reflection and self-expression. Betty and Pearce hand over the light of their souls to the next generation and the next and the next and so it goes...love is eternal. Blessings and gratitude always, Karen Toole
