A. Betty Sheehan

After a long and happy life, Aileen Betty Sheehan, Betty to all those who knew her, died peacefully in her sleep on April 10, 2023. She spent her last days surrounded by family and friends, supporting all of us as we supported her.

Betty was pre-deceased by her dear husband George and parents Charles Brown and Kathleen (Kelly). She is survived by her sister Marie Driscoll (Clare, deceased) and brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Betty Brown.

Betty was born on May 6, 1933 in Birds Creek, Ontario, but, like many, moved south with her family at the end of WWII. She learned the hard working values of Depression era farm life but also embraced the exciting city life of Peterborough. Betty finished school and went to work at the Westclox Company on Armour Hill where she would spend her entire career.

As a young woman, Betty enjoyed life in the country with its big fields, big gardens and big euchre games to keep her busy. She also enjoyed the city: softball at East City Bowl, downtown movies, shopping and snackbars, not to mention live music and dances on summer nights. She soon met George, the red-headed boy from Sacred Heart parish, and their lifelong love affair began.

Betty and George, George and Betty…to family and friends it became like a brand name. They built their cozy dream home overlooking the farm. They later added a big deck and a pool, entertaining nieces and nephews by day and square dancers and friends by night. Betty was always nearby with the latest Kodak camera to capture the fun.

Betty loved to square dance! She and George travelled around Ontario and the U.S. to dance. For Betty and George, lifelong friendships and memories were forged on the square dance floor. After retirement there were more changes and more friendships with a move to Buckhorn and winters in Florida.

The death of George left Betty broken-hearted. When her spirit returned, she became a fixture of the community at the Activity Haven and one of the founding members of the new Mapleridge Community Centre. Her favorite group was the Red Hatters where she could indulge her love of music and singing.

Betty was a woman of faith her entire life. Faith in her church, her family, her friends and the many communities to which she belonged. She was generous and kind to all those she encountered. Her positive nature spilled over onto all of us and she will be greatly missed. To the very end, Betty was thankful for all that she was given in life. She deeply appreciated the care of Dr. Archibald and, at PRHC, John Lowry and all of the nursing team.

Aunt Betty will be remembered by her nieces and nephews Stephen Driscoll (Sue), Beth Gosselin (Justin), Joanne Milligan (Greg), Stephen Brown (Colleen), Glenn Brown (Sandy), Julie Brown (Jason McKinlay), and her fifteen great nieces and nephews. Friends who were especially dear to Betty included Diane, Dolly, Beth and Verlie. Her friend Katie Collins offered care and companionship through the ups and downs of aging. A remarkable journey, indeed, for a little girl from Birds Creek.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, 1066 Western Avenue, Peterborough on Saturday April 22 at 11:30 a.m. followed by a reception. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com for the Sheehan family.