Obituary of Betty Isabel Russell

With heavy hearts, the family of Betty Isabel Russell, 90, of Riverton, announces her passing on February 2, 2018, in the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital. Born July 31, 1927 to John William and Jessie (MacLaren) Greene, Betty was a strong, generous and loving woman who touched the lives of many. Born and raised in Barney’s River, Betty was proud of her "country roots". She attended the Kenzieville School until age 16, when she traveled to Ottawa to enroll in a business course. She met her future husband a year later, the day she returned to Pictou County. Married 57 years, Betty and Charlie resided in Riverton where they raised three children. Betty’s first job was with Metropolitan Life Insurance in New Glasgow. She went on to work at the New Glasgow Credit Union and the Steel Workers Union in Trenton before becoming the office manager at Glen Haven Manor, where she worked for 25 years until her retirement. Betty was active in her church and community. She was a life-long member of Sharon St. John United Church where she served in the Miriam Unit of the UCW, taught Sunday School and belonged to Betty’s Kitchen Bible Study Group. She served as treasurer and president of the Stellarton Balmoral Girls’ Pipe Band. Betty had many talents; knitting, crocheting, sewing, baking, and gardening that she shared with others. Her pickles, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, and famous rolls were delivered weekly to family and friends and also sent to every bake sale, hockey hospitality room, and school event her grandchildren were involved in. Believing it was important to pass on her skills, she spent time with her children and grandchildren, teaching them to knit, sew, and master her favorite recipes. After retiring, she became a volunteer knitter for the Aberdeen Hospital maternity ward, knitting more than 100 hats in a year. Betty was also an avid writer. As a student she was a regular contributor to the Kenzieville School Monthly. Her column, "Dear Aunt Betty" offered advice and solutions to her fellow students. Throughout her life, she loved to write poems to share with family on all special occasions. Above all, Betty was a loving caregiver. She began caring for her father and brothers at age 12, when her mother was hospitalized. Throughout her life she continued to take care of her family; delivering hot biscuits for breakfast before school, packing Carolyn’s lunch (to be shared with all the ICU nurses), nursing sick grandchildren, driving kids to their extra-curricular activities, practicing spellings before a test, and saving favorite items of clothing from stains and rips that no one else seemed able to fix. Betty was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She rarely missed a school activity, musical performance, or sporting event. She was never too busy to lend a hand or simply spend time. In honor of her many talents and loving care, her grandchildren coined her "Super Nanny", "Nanny Hustle" then "Great Grand Super Nan" when great grandchildren arrived. She was predeceased by her loving husband Charles; her six brothers, Lawson, Eddie (Myrtle), Ranald, Calvin (Betty), Herman (Coral), and Gary; and special cousin Jessie "Dolly" Davidson. She will be missed by her children, Madelyn Evans Langlois (Jack), Carolyn MacLeod (Van), and Gordon Russell; grandchildren, Keah Callaghan (Aaron), Stellarton, Kylee Evans (Sandy Jobin-Beavans), Toronto, Matthew (Karen), Antigonish, Paul (Erin), Stellarton, Heidi Connors (Chris), Stellarton, and Haley Gillis (Neil), Calgary; great grandchildren, Evan and Ben Callaghan, Aaron and Neala MacLeod, Maddox Lays, Sawyer and Taylor MacLeod, and Blake Connors; sisters-in-law Florence Stewart and Francis Fowler. The family would like to extend their thanks to the 4th Floor and Palliative Care nurses at the Aberdeen Hospital and to Drs. Kirk and Kwasnik for their care, and VON for home care. Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7 PM at the H.C. MacQuarrie Funeral Chapel, Stellarton. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 10 at 2:00 PM from Sharon St. John United Church, Stellarton with Rev. Karen Ross officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s memory may be made to Sharon St. John United Church, the SPCA, or a charity of your choice. www.angusfuneralhomes.com