Elizabeth ‘Bette’ Connolly
Elizabeth ‘Bette’ Connolly, 91, of Dartmouth, passed away in the Dartmouth General Hospital on July 8, 2017, after suffering a stroke.
Born in Sydney on December 31st, 1925 to the late Doane Curtis Sr. and Jessie (Kavanaugh) Curtis, she graduated from Holy Angels Convent, Sydney in l944, and after obtaining her business diploma, embarked upon a career with F.W. Woolworth & Co. in Sydney, working in personnel and cash management. Bette excelled in her work and was asked to travel to other regions to hire staff and assist in opening Woolworth stores in various Atlantic communities. She seized the opportunity and temporarily relocated to St. John’s and Stephenville, NL and Edmundston, NB. It was her experience with the Woolworth Company that helped Bette hone the financial skills which she applied to good effect in her family life and her later employment. In 1962, she married Pat Connolly and his media career eventually took them to southwestern Ontario for three years. Bette relinquished her career and became a full-time mother to their only son, David, in 1963. She considered it to be the greatest role of her life, and performed it with incomparable love, patience, kindness, dedication and sacrifice. She acquired a beloved daughter-in-law when David married Alison McEachern, and the two of them consulted regularly on politics and gardening.
Bette decided to return to the workforce in the early 1970’s. Given her experience, she naturally applied for management roles, only to be told on several occasions that despite her experience, the role would be going to a male candidate. Displaying the backbone that was her trademark, Bette took contract positions and eventually worked her way back into a management position with the Federal Government, retiring from Employment and Immigration Canada in 1993 after a 20-year career. In so doing, she set a stellar example for her grandchildren.
It was those grandchildren, Alec and Brighid Connolly, who became Bette and Pat’s joy in their retirement. Bette collected every photo, every scrawled drawing, every holiday card she ever received and catalogued them all; she stuffed her grandchildren with homemade cookies and treats and gave them a lifetime’s worth of hugs and kisses. They adored their Nana.
Bette was passionate about her family and friends and would do anything to foster their well-being; she never turned down an opportunity to help, which often meant that she willingly put her own comfort or needs second to those around her. Bette loved to spend time at the family’s summer retreat in Ingonish Beach, Cape Breton, surrounded by her siblings, nieces and nephews. It was the place where she was most at home, and where she could exercise her phenomenal cooking skills, side by side with her sisters. She also treasured sharing Sunday dinners, holidays and special celebrations with David’s in-laws (and her dear friends) John and Shirley McEachern, Julie McEachern and Kellie and Jason McIvor. Politics was often the topic of the day and her crush on Justin Trudeau was unabashed. At home, she thoroughly enjoyed the company of her group of friends in the building where she lived; the women of the 19th floor club, with whom she shared many card games, lunches and chats over tea.
Bette is survived by her son, David and daughter-in-law Alison McEachern, and her two adored grandchildren, Alec and Brighid Connolly. She is also survived by her sisters, Marjorie Alexander (Rye, NY) and Marilyn Skinner (Mississauga); her brother, Ken Curtis (Halifax); her brother-in-law, Rev. Fr. Owen Connolly (Halifax), and her sisters-in-law, Ann Culligan (Dartmouth), Barbara Matheson (Ottawa), Eileen Gillis (Sydney), Louise Whitehead (Portland, Maine), and Marie Curtis (Sydney) as well as her many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bette was predeceased by her husband, Pat; her sister, Mary Alexander; brothers, Doane Curtis Jr., William Curtis and Warner Curtis, as well as her brothers-in-law, Bob Alexander, Dr. Charles Alexander, Clarence Skinner, John Connolly, Dennis Connolly, Patrick Gillis, Larry Whitehead, Murray Matheson, and Joe Culligan, and her sisters-in-law, Kaye Connolly, Mary Connolly, Leah Connolly and Merle Curtis
Bette’s family wishes to extend its deep gratitude to all those friends and family who offered support during her final days. We are also incredibly grateful to Sandra Bell, who originally came to help keep Bette’s apartment in its pristine condition, but who grew to be a friend and helped her in many ways that allowed Bette to continue to live independently. We also want to express our sincere thanks to the incredible nurses, staff and doctors of the Dartmouth General Hospital Emergency Department and wing 3 West. They saw Bette through to the end of her life with gentle compassion.
Cremation has occurred. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St., Dartmouth, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Church, 10 Maple St., Dartmouth, on Wednesday, July 19 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Bette’s memory to the Victorian Order of Nurses or the CNIB.
Online condolences may be made by visiting the Dartmouth Chapel at www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com.
