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Elizabeth Warder Obituary
Elizabeth “Betty” Warder (nee Chesters)
Betty passed away on October 2, 2023. She was born July 22, 1930, in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, England, the daughter of the late Lewis and Emma Chesters, sister of the late William, “Billy”, wife of the late Marshall Warder and mother of Hilary (Walter Abicht), Alison (Bertrand Millot) and Melanie (Tim Farr). Betty and Marshall married in 1955 and, after a job offer from DuPont, they along with one-year old Melanie, emigrated to Canada in 1956, crossing the rough winter seas of the North Atlantic on the SS Ryndam, on a journey always described by Mum as the longest four days of her life. Soon after, they were joined by Betty’s parents and her brother Billy and his wife Kathy (Tracey, Michael, and Rebecca). By 1964, Alison and Hilary had appeared.
Some years later, Marshall received a call from his good university chum, Desmond Mallalieu who had also found a job in Ontario. Jumping into the car with Marshall to drive to Deseronto, Betty wondered aloud if she would like Des’ wife, Iris. Indeed, Iris and Betty became lifelong best friends and Des and Iris became much loved Uncle and Auntie to their three girls. Betty first worked at the Kingston Prison for Women where she developed a deep compassion for the inmates. She then worked for many decades at the National Parole Board ending her career as a Victim’s Support Officer, a role she embraced and in which she took great pride. In her spare time, Betty was an enthusiastic, skilled badminton and tennis player. She could not be beaten at Scrabble, usually playing numerous 7 letter turns per game. Betty and Marshall enjoyed socializing at the Kingston Yacht Club and hosted many parties, including a memorable one for the British Olympic Yachting team in August 1976, when the sailing Olympics took place in Kingston.
After retiring, Betty enjoyed gardening, travelling to Paris and London to visit family and spending time with her grandchildren – Alex and Emma Abicht, Nicholas and Matthew Millot, Marshall (Martine) Farr and Shannon (Matt Hollinger). Until the separation and isolation of Covid, Betty enjoyed the time she was able to spend with her great-grandchildren, Tristan and Nadine Farr. She was also great-grandmother to Fiona and James Hollinger, of Thunder Bay. Betty kept in touch with family in BC (her cousin Cathy Cox, and nephew Michael Chesters, his wife Patti Curtis and their son Cole) and the UK (nieces Tracey (Chris Wilson) and Rebecca Wells, nephew Graham Wheeler).
We wish to express our deepest thanks to the staff and residents of Revera/St. Lawrence Place for their compassionate care, especially Laura Kropp who was such a wonderful friend to Mum. Special thanks and gratitude to Mum’s caregiver, Barbara Orme, for her attentive and loving care and for being there, with Hilary, when Mum passed. To her last moments, Mum was upbeat and happy, grateful to everyone and for everything. She would want us to take this opportunity to remind everyone of her two life mantras, start as you mean to continue, and life is for the living. Betty, Mum, Granny, Nan, Auntie, will be forever loved and forever missed.
Cremation and interment of ashes have taken place. A celebration of life will occur on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at James Reid Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kingston Rowing Club at www.ontariosportnetwork.ca/nstf-projects/252-the-kingston-rowing-club (Mum was a big supporter of rowers Alex and Emma) or a charity of your choice.
July 22 1930
October 2 2023
Death notice for the town of: Kingston, Province: Ontario
death notice Elizabeth Warder July 22 1930
October 2 2023
obituaries notice Elizabeth Warder July 22 1930
October 2 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Elizabeth Warder July 22 1930
October 2 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
