Betty Margaret Doherty

Betty was born in Victoria BC, Aug 3, 1927, and grew up in the 1400 block of Hillside Ave when it was fields of grass all the way to the Jubilee Hospital. Her mother Hazel McKitrick died of cancer when Betty was 14 and her father Frank Brundrige died in a motor vehicle accident when she was 16.

That was a rough start for a shy girl. Her uncle ‘Mac’ McKitrick stayed with her until the DiCastri family and then the Erskins took her in as she made her way to adulthood. To Betty her mom and dad were golden, and Betty retained a keen memory of her early years.

Betty is predeceased by her brother Melvin Brundrige and her husband of 71 years, Hugh Rhys Clinton ‘Dirk’ Doherty and her lifelong close friend Muriel Walsh. Betty will be missed by her family: sons Stephen (Karen), Daniel (Phillippa) and Todd Doherty; by her grandson Joshua (Magdalena) and their daughters Harriet and Iris; by Betty’s granddaughter Claire (Sean); by long-time friends Muriel, Madlen Ebrel and Diane Leamy, by the Monterrey Rec Centre exercise gang, and by the Lower Nicola BC McKitrick cousins.

Betty and Hugh built their home on Hillside in 1954, across the street from her childhood home. As a home maker Betty knitted, crocheted, painted, sculpted and needle-worked her way through raising 3 boys, even while Hugh was out to sea on naval auxiliary vessels. In their early retirement Betty and Hugh travelled to Europe, on cruises and around North America in their motor home. Betty remained on Hillside for 68 years until her final month.

Special thanks to the remarkable Island Health Renal Unit team for 15 years of loving care, to the HandyDART drivers who “made her day” 3 days/week, to the St Elizabeth care workers who kept her safe at home, and to staff at The Summit for welcoming and caring for Betty during her last month.

Betty loved her garden and anything floral. Betty charmed pretty much anyone she came in contact with. She crafted many rhymes and limericks for birthday cards. Please consider sharing a limerick or memory in the online obituary guestbook at DignityMemorial.com or at Legacy.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the BC Kidney Foundation, Victoria Hospitals Foundation or the Huntington Society of Canada.

A memorial service for Betty and Hugh will be arranged in the near future. Leave a comment here or contact the family if you wish to receive the details.