G. E. Betty Anderson

We are sadly announcing the sudden passing of Gertrude “Betty” Anderson on August 4, 2025 at Huntsville Hospital at the age of 88. She leaves to mourn her beloved Bruce Anderson of 67 years together. Cherished mother to Robin Sutey (John Sutey). Loved Nana to Brittany Sutey-Gasson (Jeff Gasson) and Kaitlyn Sutey.  She is survived by her brother Greg Wilkie.

Betty’s life journey began on July 10, 1937. She was born in North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where she resided with her parents, Bertha and Richard Wilkie and her sister Catherine.

When Betty was two, her father left to fight in war so Betty, her mom and sister spent a lot of time with her grandparents, Adelaide and Bily Parsons, who she adored. Billy was the town’s fire chief and was also a Canadian Champion Boxer. She spent a lot of time with her grandparents and even lived with them for a few years.

When Betty’s dad returned from the war, their family expanded to include her brother Jim, her sister Marion and her brother Greg.

As a child, Betty’s favourite time of year was winter because she loved to skate. She would go every chance she got, even if the arena was losing in 5 minutes; she thought 5 minutes was better than nothing. Betty was a bit of a prankster and when she was a young girl, she thought it would be funny to call random people and ask them if their fridge was running and when they said yes, she told them they better run after it. She quickly learned that the switchboard operator monitored calls and that put an end to that! Her mother often joked she was “full of the devil.”

Betty moved to Ontario when she was eighteen and lived with her aunt and uncle in Toronto. She met Bruce at a Young People’s dance through the church and they were married on September 26, 1958. As a young married couple, Betty and Bruce would often visit his parent, Ede and Andy, at their cottage on Lake Muskoka. They enjoyed playing cards and Betty would sometimes go fishing with Ede and Andy but only if Andy baited her hook. Andy had a soft spot for Betty because she was the only person he would bait a hook for. Betty never lost her appetite to prank. One afternoon at the cottage while Andy was sleeping, she couldn’t resist the opportunity to put lipstick on him. Ede didn’t think that was a good idea, but Betty did it anyway. When Andy woke up and discovered what she had done, he chased her around the cottage… but that was Betty, she enjoyed laughing and making others laugh.

When they were first married, Betty worked as a teller at a bank until her daughter, Robin, was born. This is where she met her dear friend, Vera. Vera and her family remained very close over the years and are considered family. Betty dedicated her life to raising Robin and they were very close. She was a very loving, kind and caring mother. She extended that love to her son-in-law, John, who was always there for her when she needed him, and Betty appreciated everything he did for her. She adored her grandchildren, Brittany and Kaitlyn, and decided to babysit them until they attended school full time. She enjoyed taking them for walks, taking them shopping and buying them treats afterwards. Their bond grew strong over the years and Betty was happy when Brittany’s husband, Jeff, joined the family; she treated him like he was her grandson. Betty enjoyed having her family for Sunday dinners and she continued this tradition for years.

Betty was a tiny person with a big personality and a big heart. She has left an imprint on her family’s hearts and souls; she has left a huge void that can’t be filled. She will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her, but she has left us all with many wonderful memories.

Betty’s family would like to express a special thank you to the dialysis nurses and doctors at Huntsville Hospital for the extraordinary care she received over the last three years. She often referred to the nurses and patients as her “Dialysis Family” and she was very fond of everyone.

Following Betty’s wishes cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place on September 27th from 1:00-3:00 pm at Browning Hall at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Bracebridge.

Memorial donations to Kidney Foundation would be appreciated in Betty’s memory.