CALIMENTE (nee CARSTENS), Betty Ann
March 24, 1934 - March 23, 2014
Betty passed away peacefully at the Campbell River Hospital on March 23rd at the age of 80, surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband, Don; sons, Paul and John; and sisters Marita and Joan. A celebration of her life will be held between 1-3pm on Sunday, April 27th at the Campbell River Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 N Island Highway, Campbell River.
While Betty was born in Grace Hospital in Vancouver, she lived almost her entire life on Vancouver Island, which she felt was her heart's natural home - on an island surrounded by the sea. Her family first lived in a logging camp at Horne Lake, followed by Dashwood, Qualicum Beach, Royston, then Courtenay.
In 1951 she was selected as one of only 50 girls from across Canada to take part in Weston Tour of England, and was thrilled to have the chance to meet Queen Elizabeth. She attended UBC on scholarship to become a teacher and worked first at elementary schools in Trail, Burnaby, Nanaimo, and Powell River, after which she taught secondary school in Dawson Creek and finally Campbell River beginning in 1962. She met her husband Don, a fellow teacher at Carihi, in 1966.
She left Carihi to raise her family, but went back to work as a substitute teacher in 1976 and subsequently as an ESL instructor at the Continuing Education Centre from 1987 to 1994. After retirement she and Don enjoyed trips to Greece, Italy, France, Mexico and China before a final grand journey along the Alaskan Highway.
We thank the Campbell River Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria for their exceptional care of Betty over the past year. As well, a heartfelt thank you to her nieces Lisa Solanto and Jody Herbert, her nephews Joe Solanto and Fred Herbert, grand nephew Stephen Herbert, along with dear friends Nicole and Ron Pilote, Jaen and Gary Wanamaker, Darlene Gordon, and Lynn Lennox. We don't have the words to express our gratitude for all your support, compassion, and sympathy during this past year.
Donations in Betty's memory can be made to the Betty Calimente Memorial Scholarship, which will honour students from School District 72 who plan to attend a post-secondary institution.