October 20, 1911 – April 5, 2012
Bertha passed away peacefully at Parkwood on April 5, 2012, six months after her 100th Birthday. Predeceased by her beloved husband James, a member of the Canadian Scottish killed in action WWII. Also predeceased by brothers Norman, Wesley and Howard; sisters Clara and Doris. Survived by daughter Lois (Bob) Waters; grandchildren Ray and Michele; great-grandchildren Amanda, James, Megan; great-great-grandsons Tobias and Nikolai; brother Stanley (Celia) Maher; sister-in-law Rosemary (Leo) McGillis; 15 nieces and nephews and their families.
Bertha graduated from Brandon Mental Hospital in 1935 and then graduated from the RJH as an RN in 1940. After a very rewarding Nursing career, she retired in 1972. Her love of nature lead to a hobby in Photography. She had several photos published, won many awards and was honoured as a Life Time Member to the Victoria Camera Club.
Bertha was overwhelmed that her entire family and many extended family and friends had come to be with her to celebrate her 100th Birthday in October. Mum, Grandma, Aunt, Sister and Friend – Bertha will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the RJH Chapel Fund (Alumnae Association of RJH), through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation (www.victoriahf.ca). A Celebration of Life will be held at MCCALL BROS. Floral Chapel on Thursday April 19th at 2:00 pm. Condolences may be offered below.
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Maria and Pietro Pinese
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Emily Gail Gatehouse To Lois – for you and all dear Bertha’s family – I was Blessed to know this magnificent woman ! ‘thru Royal Jubilee working years and later in the Alumnae. Also when I visited St. Alban’s for a Christmas bazaar and more. And so appreciated the amazing photographs. Hope to attend her service. Prayers with love to you, Gail Gatehouse.
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ARLENE EDWARDS Ron and I were saddened to hear of Bertha’s passing. She was a remarkable woman, and we will miss her. She was a treasure as a nurse mentor, and a strong supporter of the RJH Alumnae. They still use her card photographs of the Chapel, graduation items, the nurse dolls over the years, and the stained glass book marks.
I just re-read my copy of “What Makes The LadyBug?”, and find it amazing that when most people were sitting back on their laurels, Bertha was publishing!
Bertha invited Ron and I to lunch on February 27th, the last time, seeming bright and alert as ever. We will remember her that way.
I am just home from hospital following knee surgery, and am sorry to miss Bertha’s farewell, but know the family she cared for so deeply, will do her proud.
Arlene
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Nita (Waters) Clark Bertha was a remarkable Lady who led a very memorable life.
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judy bingham (Robbins) and george bingham George and I have so many fond memories of Bertha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cherish yours!
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Holly Vickers I remember Bertha as a friend of my father’s and a member of St Alban’s; very bright, very able, very caring and very special. I’m so glad to have known her, even peripherally, and all the get-togethers at our house for the Photographic Society of America slide-shows where people would comment that ‘someone should have moved that mountain a little to the left’ (of course, nowadays, we can). Get up there and move mountains, Bertha
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Erin Skillen I thought of Bertha as my bonus Grandma. I first met her in 1997 when I moved out to Victoria for university and she was the only member of my family here. We bonded instantly through our love of that family, our other shared loves of travel and of photography.
Bertha was an inspiring woman who lived an incredible life. Her stories of traveling to Africa, Japan, Europe and other destinations were always entertaining. Most interesting were her stories of how she’d captured some of her most difficult wildlife photos – the patience required to get the right moment on film. The fruits of that labour are evident in her extensive collection of amazing photography.
My parents also visited Bertha through the years when they came out to visit me, and were able to see her even more when they moved out here too. My husband was amazed by her and commented on how grateful she was for all she had – that she was always thankful for how fortunate she was.
More recently, there was a new addition to my visits with Bertha, as my son Kaeden came into the world January 2011. Bertha made it clear right up front (in that fabulous Bertha way) that she wanted to see this young man as he grew. So we visited as often as we could between colic and colds and he and Bertha became regulars together in Parkwood’s tea room. They had everyone’s attention as Bertha held Kaeden on her lap, rolling him around on her electric scooter. As Kaeden grew, he watched Bertha carefully and soon figured out how to turn on and operate the scooter himself, nearly driving Bertha over me. We had a good laugh about that one.
I know Bertha was disappointed with her eyesight, hearing and mobility as the years went on, but she was very happy to have her mind and memories intact. Though it’s incredibly sad to see her go, to know that she lived to be 100, that she was still herself to the end and that she died at home in an instant brings comfort. It was a life well-lived and we will all miss her deeply – and hope our own lives are so fortunate.
We miss you Bertha,
Love Erin, Kaeden, Joyce, Russ and Jeff
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Kathryn Dunphy I am so sorry to hear that Bertha has passed away. I knew her through the Victoria Camera Club and always enjoyed talking with her when she was able to come out to our club’s special events. She was a wonderful inspiration to me–as well as several other photographers that I know–and I will miss her very much.
To the family,
We would like to send our condolences to your loss of Bertha. She was a gentle, kind person who always watched out for us. Bertha was our neighbour of 50+ years and she watched our children and grandchildren grow up from over the fence. When she heard the screams of children playing in our backyard she would always come over to see them. We will always remember these things of her: her grape jelly, her apple tree in the back yard, her garden plot that she let us use when she was no longer able, her talent for photography (she took many pictures of our grand children and we will treasure them always) and her kindness. She loved the fact that we had chickens in the backyard and said that it always remind her of her youth. To reach 100 years of age is truly amazing and we feel fortunate to have known her for as long as we did. Her memory will be with us in our prayers.