Betty Rosella (née Tinney) Gray

March 30, 2020

Passed away peacefully, with family by her side, on Monday, March 30, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Hospice, London. Betty is survived by her large, loving family including her 4 children: Lynn (Wayne), Karen (Tim), Robert (Greta), Richard (Caroline); her 13 grandchildren: Lindsay (Jonathan), Carolyn (David), Michael (Jennifer), Andrew (Rachel), Erik (Maria), Fraser (Lucia), Patrick, Kevin, Samantha (Kyle), Logan (Caitlin), Emily (Ayush), Mason (Reale), Jamie; and her 6 great-grandchildren: Elle, Daniel, Leo, Tommy, Owen and Nathan. Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband of 40 years, Wilfrid Alexander Gray (1988) and her grandson, Nicholas Donald Gray (1997).

Betty was born in Oil City, Ontario on October 22,1924. She graduated from Petrolia High School, and then, went on to nursing school at Grace Hospital in Windsor. Betty loved her career in nursing and took great pride in her bedside patient care. She worked at Grace Hospital, Montreal General Hospital, Homewood Health in Guelph and at Ste. Anne’s Hospital in Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec.

Betty and Wilf loved spending time with their family, enjoying many camping trips and family vacations throughout Canada and the United States. Betty taught all her grandchildren to play the favorite family card game of cribbage. As a couple, Betty and Wilf enjoyed golf, curling and bridge. Betty continued these avid interests throughout her retirement years, and was an active volunteer in the London Community. Volunteer experiences, included work at University Hospital, The May Court Club of London and Meals on Wheels. Betty also drove many of her friends to their various appointments over the years.

Betty’s feisty spirit, love of life, and optimism will be greatly missed by her friends and family. The family is very grateful for the caring staff at Revera Grand Wood Park Retirement Residence, as they provided a warm home for Betty over the past three years. LHSC – Victoria Hospital (ACE) unit, South West LHIN Home and Community Care, and St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, all provided extraordinary compassionate care to Betty. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Joseph’s Hospice, London would be greatly appreciated. A memorial Celebration of Life will be planned at a future date.

Leave a tribute for Betty Rosella (née Tinney) Gray

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Our deepest condolences to the Gray family in the passing of your mother. The passing of ones mother is especially difficult. May the fond memories you have created together keep you all strong at this difficult time. I have many fond memories of your mom, her grace and friendliness and spirit are what I remember most from our little visits over the years. Thinking of you all. Love Kathy & Daaryll and family

~ Kathy & Daaryll Lamb

Our Deepest Sympathy to all Betty's wonderful family whom she always spoke very highly of and loved her vacations with you and family gatherings We met Betty when we moved to our condo I had the great pleasure of her company during books club and we shared a love of nursing, sports, bridge and she was a great supporter of May Court which I loved their yearly sales. My last visits with her at Grandview I'll always remember her positive attitude her infectious laugh and her love for life .

~ Val& Ross Tucker

To all of Betty's family... My family felt very fortunate to know your mother and grandmother over the years. Betty was a good friend to my mother Doris Biesenthal. They enjoyed many bridge games, outings, trips down south and visits to the cottage is Bayfield. Through my mother's friendship, our whole family was given the gift of your mother's friendship and we will be forever grateful for that connection. We especially enjoyed game nights at the cottage with your mom. Everyone appreciated her zest for life, and beautiful style inside and out. Betty even took our family Christmas picture one year and we have the best smiles enjoying her laughter and encouragement. Our sincerest condolences on your mother's passing. We have all been blessed to know her whether she touched our lives in big or small ways. Such a wonderful woman, Betty Gray. Most sincerely, Heather Guild

~ Heather Guild (Biesenthal)

We wish to extend condolences to Betty's children & grandchildren. We met Betty approximately 9 years ago, and since then enjoyed our many chats . We shared a love of books , and often she would recommend a book , she had loved reading, and thought I would as well.. We shared a love of family, as she would relay what was happening in hers, and I in mine. We will miss her quick smile ,easy chuckle and zest for life. It was a privilege to be her friend .

~ Geesje & Stephen Fulton

I was so very sad to hear of Betty's passing. I remember her fondly from the time we spent on our Saturday shifts together at the May Court Shop. We laughed at her amusing stories and shared anecdotes from our various travels. She was always so pleasant and lovely to spend time with. Her passing will be a loss to so many. My very deep condolences to her family.

~ Paula Travers

To Betty's Family, we were fortunate to have met Betty, At Christmas time with the Nowry Family in Calgary. Lynn and Wayne, Caroline, Andrew and Patrick, who were our neighbours. Since then we have had the pleasure of meeting Betty on numerous occasions, and also again at Carolyn and David's wedding in Lunenberg NS, where we were pleased to meet with Betty's family and David's family. We were rather impressed with how Betty kept up with her contact of family, her zest for life, curling, and being supportive of her friends, this was the Betty we knew. To all of Betty's family, our sincere condolences. Betty will be sorely missed by her large family but also those whose life she touched. May God keep you all in the Palm of His hands, during this trying time. Rest in Peace Betty.

~ Joyce/Keth Conley

My condolences on the passing of your Mum. I have many fond memories of our shared Christmas and New Years dinners, what an extravaganza these events were in the 1960s. Auntie Betty and Uncle Wilf were lots of fun and I remember both your parents with great fondness.

~ Anne Gaskin Cooke

Dear Lynn, Karen, Bob, Rick and families, We were very sorry to hear about Betty's death. We have many happy memories of all our times together over the years. The good-fellowship, friendship and laughter we shared will never be forgotten. Sincerely, Mary and Nora

~ Mary Gaskin and Nora Gaskin