On October 1, 2017, Betty Hamilton, Etobicoke resident and ESS client, will be celebrating her 101st birthday.

 

Born in Rosedale in 1916, Betty grew up in Uxbrige, Ontario. An only child, Betty has fond memories of her parents and growing up in Uxbridge where she would enjoy swimming and skating with her family. Her parents were an important influence in her life and taught her right from wrong.

Betty met her husband Douglas, an accountant, in her childhood neighbourhood. He was a neighbour of her grandparents. They married in 1944 when Betty was 27 and honeymooned in New York State.

A nurse by profession, Betty and her husband moved to Toronto where she worked as a private duty nurse for 5 years. She finished her nursing career in a pediatrician’s office, where she promised to only stay for 2 weeks and help while the office was being established as her wedding was imminent, but ended up staying for 25 years. Her favourite part about her job was interacting with the children she met in the office.

Throughout her life, Betty has traveled to many places including England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Germany; to name a few. Her favourite place she traveled to was England and her favourite holiday to celebrate is Christmas. For 25 years, Betty would crochet 100 pairs of mittens per year and donate them to the mission field or a church.

Since her husband’s passing in 1995, Betty has lived in an Assisted Living Seniors Residence building where she receives community care services from ESS.

Betty has no secrets of how to live to 101; she feels her faith has kept her going and that she lived the best way she thought was right. When asked whether, after 101 years, she has any life or marital advice to pass along, she imparted the following: a sense of humour is important, keeping your faith and just loving one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Betty!