Betty-Lou Cochrane-Cameron

Betty-Lou Cochrane-Cameron, 72, of Halifax, passed away peacefully early on 16 October 2022, with family by her side. She was born to the late Margaret Ella (McClair) and Aubrey Gilbert Cochrane on 6 December 1949 in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The youngest of a large family, Betty-Lou was predeceased by her older brothers Alvin (Theresa, recently passed) Cochrane and Kenneth (Margaret) Cochrane as well as Douglas Cochrane who died in infancy. She is survived by brother Dale Cochrane as well as sisters Marie (John) Cochrane, and Pauline (James) McIsaac, a number of nieces and nephews and her four children.

As a child, she’d help care for chickens while her father was working in the Gypsum Mines, or get teased by her older siblings, including her beloved brother Kenny who might toss a tiny snake or two her way. She once worked at the Hostess Chip factory in Kentville where she got to try unreleased flavours, and took to making ceramic art, some of which her children have to this day. Later she’d become a Certified Nursing Assistant, working long hours and nights at the hospital in Kentville, caring for others.

She married in June of 1969, to Andrew Graham Cameron of Greenwich, and they settled in Canning, Nova Scotia. Four decidedly unique children came from that union: Élan in 1973, Devin in 1975, Adrian in 1977 and Morgane in 1979. Those days in the valley flew by in a rush of diapers, chilly morning drives to school and powdered milk. When Andrew and Betty-Lou divorced in the mid-80's, the children journeyed with her to the bustling metropolis of Halifax.

Betty-Lou worked hard to provide for her school age children in Halifax. She worked multiple jobs - reception at different doctor’s offices, helping in the Recovery Room at the Victoria General, even exercising her speedy typing skills on her huge IBM typewriter on behalf of university students for the tidy sum of 10 cents a page. Always encouraging her children in their pursuits, whether dance or skating or scouts or debating, Betty-Lou would bring them to event after event, judging or volunteering whenever an extra hand was needed. Her drive rubbed off on her children, all of whom took up jobs of some kind in their early teen years.

Entering the 1990s, Betty-Lou indulged in darts and had a run as a bit of a card shark in pairs cribbage tournaments while the family lived in Spryfield. Later, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she moved to an apartment of her own on the peninsula, watching as her children flourished and brought partners and grandchildren into her life. An animal lover, Betty-Lou always seemed to have a cat like Scampie or Poppy around to care for and keep her company - or perhaps to hear her bemoaning the performance of her beloved Blue Jays baseball team while she sipped on some long-flat Pepsi!

No brief biography will ever capture the breadth of her headstrong personality and all those who knew her will remember her. But ultimately, above it all, she was our mom. And we will miss her terribly.

No public service will be held. Her family asks that if you are so moved, you make a donation in her memory to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, a charity that she supported for many years.