ESSENSA, BETTY - The family of Betty Essensa announce her death that occurred on May 01, 2012 at Rocmaura Nursing Home, Saint John. Born in her cherished town of McAdam, NB in 1922 to Gertrude and Eldon Crotty, she graduated from McAdam Composite High and was employed at the Bank of Nova Scotia for several years before marrying the love of her life, Earle Essensa who predeceased her in 2006. Betty lived in an extended family where she provided continuous care to her physically disabled mother for over 25 years while mothering Suzanne (Paul Gogan) and Jane (Tom Reid). The family was blessed with an informal network of friends and neighbours who assisted with childcare and many neighbourly gestures over the years and remained friends for a lifetime. Betty was the last surviving member of “The Club Girls” from McAdam who met on a regular basis over 50 years. She was the McAdam correspondent for the Telegraph Journal for several years and was again employed by the TJ in the Social Department after moving to Saint John in 1961 where she and Earle welcomed a son, David (Marilyn Cowie). Summers were “camp time” when they reunited with friends and made many memories at Magaguadavic and Harvey Lake. Betty was later proudly employed at Cowie and Son Jewelers where she got to retail her favourite things, jewelery and dishes while making many new friends. Betty is survived by her brother, Gregory in Toronto, her 3 children, Suzanne, Jane and David; eight grandchildren: Jonathan, Christopher and Cara Gogan; Angela, Sarah and Jordan Reid; Katherine and Craig Essensa; 7 great grandchildren; her special niece, Maureen Knight and her dad, Scott Knight; one brother in law, Don Essensa (Maxine) and her sisters in law, Shirley Watling, Margaret McAloon (Doug) and Glenna Muise (Lindsay), many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, her husband, Earle, her sister Katherine (Sis) and several brothers and sisters in law. The family would like to offer a special thanks to Betty’s caregivers at Chateau Champlain, Betty Cameron, Joan Mitchell, Doreen Blair; and more recently the staff at Rocmaura Nursing Home, Trinity Court. You treated Betty with the respect and loving care that she deserved.
Resting at Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424) on Thursday, May 3rd from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Pius X Church, 316 Somerset St. on Friday, May 4th at 12:30 pm followed by a reception. Interment to take place at St. Augustine’s Catholic Cemetery in Grand Bay-Westfield. In lieu of floral remembrances, we would suggest donations to The Childrens’ Wish Foundation, NB Chapter; MindCare at Saint John Hospital Foundation or to a charity of your choice.