Mom (Bethel «Betsy» Burleigh McCordic), after 98 years, is Home! After several long years of decline, Covid isolation, and the death of Dad last year, Mom was released late on Monday, August 21, to dance joyfully, and more fully alive than ever, through the gates of the City of her King.
Bethel Joan Burleigh was born in Seattle on March 1, 1924 and was raised in Washington State in the shadow of the beautiful Cascades. She was the only child of John Agnew Burleigh (born in 1894 in Blantyre, Scotland) and Mary Augusta Scott (born in 1899 in Lincoln, WA). Betsy graduated from Maryville College in Tennessee in 1945, and for 38 years taught French, music, art, and physical education at Prairie High School in Three Hills, Alberta. Few (if any!) of those who were her students ever forgot the unique personality, commitment, and enthusiasm that Miss Burleigh brought to Prairie. It was there that she met Charles McCordic (our dad) in 1981, a new teacher mourning the death of our mother, Mary. The 58 year old single lady teacher (it is rumoured that students would write in their yearbooks, «yours ’til Miss Burleigh gets married”!) married the lonely missionary and shortly thereafter headed off to Chad, then later to Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa. The two taught together, first at the Institut Biblique Evangélique in Moundou, then at the Swaziland Evangelical Bible Institute, and finally at Durban Bible College. Betsy’s sketch books, watercolours, ESL materials, and of course her birdwatching guides, accompanied her to each of these new places.
Retiring in 1996 and still curious about everything, they went back to school together at Regent College in BC, travelled to Greece with Kay Arthur, toured Israel, Egypt, and a lot more places we didn’t even know about. After living in Point Roberts WA, Pleasantville TN, and finally for the last eight years in Sequim WA, Dad and Betsy moved here to Waterloo Region in 2010. They were thrilled to discover that the world had invaded our Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite country and, seizing the opportunity, they taught ESL and Bible studies at First Baptist Church in Waterloo, right beside their Woodland Terrace apartment.
Due to health challenges, they moved to Cambridge in 2018, and Dad went Home on Mar 18, 2021, and Betsy followed him on August 21, 2022. We remain deeply and forever grateful to the kind and competent staff at Chartwell Queen’s Square and Revera Riverbend Place in Cambridge for their compassionate care for our parents in their final years. Betsy is survived by stepsons Charles Jr (Cindy) of Cambridge, John (Paisley) of Calgary and Tom (Heidi) of Abbotsford, daughter-in-law Dawn, as well as step-grandchildren Chad (Jen), Colin (Rachel), Cameron (Alicia), Josh (Tegan), Kyle (Rebecca), David, and Ariel (Josh), and seven great-grandchildren. Betsy was predeceased by her husband Charles, stepson Ross, and granddaughter Danielle.
Betsy’s earthly remains will be interred beside those of her husband Charles in a private service on Monday, August 29th in the Ogdensburg Cemetery in Chatham Township, Quebec. A joint memorial service for Betsy and Charles will be announced in the near future. Gifts in their memory may be directed to TEAM of Canada (Chad ministry area), Prairie Bible College, and Heritage College and Seminary.
“…Until He Comes!…”
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Monday August 22nd 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Bethel Joan McCordic Burleigh Monday August 22nd 2022..
Décès pour la Ville:Cambridge, Province: Ontario