Elizabeth Hartley

Hartley, Elizabeth Anne
Betty (as she much preferred to be called), the beloved wife of Brian Hartley. passed away peacefully on  September 19, 2019 at Grace Manor. She was predeceased by her father, Dr. Russell Nichols, her mother, Elizabeth Nichols, both of Stratford, Ontario, her only sibling, Dr. William Nichols, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and by her grand-daughter, Erin McBride.   She is survived by her husband, Brian, of Ottawa, her son, Alan (Karenne), of Langley, B.C,  her daughters, Leah (Charles Mayer) of Summerland, B.C., and Gwen McBride (Brian McBride) of Guelph, ON and by six grandchildren.  Betty attended high school at the Bishop Strachan School in Toronto.  She began her training in nursing  in1948 as one of the first students enrolled in the nursing program at McMaster University.  It was there that she met Brian whom she married in 1953. They first lived in London, Ontario while he completed a Master’s degree. They then moved to Saskatoon where Brian began his career in the federal Public Service.  During their four years in Saskatoon, they had their three children.  They then moved to Ottawa in 1958 where they remained but for brief stays in Quebec City and Kingston, Ontario.  Betty devoted much of her adult life to children beginning with her three.  As a parent, she placed the interests and welfare of her family ahead of her own.  As her children matured, she volunteered to assist challenged children to achieve their potential.  Once her children left home, she worked briefly with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Ottawa and Kingston where she organized parental relief for periods of 1 to 2 weeks.  In 1985, she founded with Brian the OLDHAT Club which for some 25 years organized spring and fall hikes in the Adirondacks for its 30 members,  Once Brian retired, she travelled extensively with him in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  Following the diagnosis of dementia in 2016, she remained surprisingly active and flew to Pittsburgh in May of 2018 to attend her brother’s funeral and took a 5-day cruise between Ottawa and Kingston on her return.  The family is grateful to the superb care which was extended to Betty during her decline by the second-floor staff at the Carlingwood Retirement Community and at Grace Manor.  Visitation will be held on Friday, October 11th, 2019 from 7-9 p.m. at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Rd (close to the Queensway Carleton Hospital) and at 9 a.m. at Trinity United Church, 1099 Maitland Ave. until the memorial service at 10 a.m.