Elizabeth Graham

Elizabeth “Betty” Rankin Graham, age 80, passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2017 in Halifax, with her dedicated and loving daughter Heather, by her side, following a four-year struggle with dementia. She was born in Inverness on May 2, 1936 and spent her early years in town and on the beloved ancestral farm in Broad Cove Banks. She was the youngest child and only daughter of Mary (MacDonald) Rankin and Roderick “Rory” Rankin, whom she affectionately referred to as “Poppa”.

Shortly after completing high school, she worked, lived and raised a family in the Boston area, until permanently relocating to Judique in 1969, and securing employment at Mary’s Hill Home (for disadvantaged adults), in Mabou for several years. She was predeceased by her parents, Roderick "Rory" Rankin and Mary; brothers, Angus Willie, John Angus "Mox" and John Dan; two siblings in infancy; husbands, David Hoover Buckland (West Virginia), Duncan Roderick Graham (Judique) and son Daniel Roderick (Danny B.) Buckland. Mom leaves behind children, David, Scott (Ellen), Heather (Allan); grandchildren, Amy (Devon), Bailey, Isaac, Rory, Ethan; great-grandchildren, Elliot and Sadie; two brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mom was a very generous soul who loved her family, friends, Church, garden, a good game of cards, a saucy joke and laugh and her kitchen. She was a renowned cook and baker in the surrounding communities, especially her go-to items such as date squares, biscuits, white/black puddings, bread, rolls, oat cakes, chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins. Mom loved to welcome visitors with a hot cuppa tea and sweets, and loved to visit her numerous friends.

Visitation will be in Judique at the Judique & District Volunteer Fire Department Hall from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2017. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Judique with Father Allan MacMillan officiating. Community tea to follow in the Judique Community Centre. Burial next to her “Poppa”, will follow at a date to be determined by the family, in Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Inverness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Betty’s name to the Judique & District Volunteer Fire Department, Judique Community Centre or to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, 112-2719 Gladstone Street, Halifax, NS B3K 4W6

On-line condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com