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- Date of death: November 28, 2011
Amelia Elizabeth (Beth) Martyn is with her Saviour and Lord in heaven and is rejoicing with all those who have gone before.
Born August 18, 1919 in Port Perry, Ontario. Died November 28, 2011 at 92 years old, in Ottawa.
Predeceased by her first husband, William (Bill) Brydon, second husband Allen Martyn, and eldest daughter Wendy Bogart.
Survived by her brother Robert Archer (Audrey), and two children: Laraine Bigham (Fred) and Bill Brydon (Diana), and her son-in-law David Bogart. Five granddaughters: Jennifer Krotsch (Dave), Anne Bigham, Claire Bloom (Jeff), Melissa Petrauskas (Ryan), Emily Speelman (Andrew) and nine great-grandchildren. Four step-children: Milly Nokes (Jim), Joanne Brethour, Denny Martyn (Anne), and Jim Martyn (Helen). Ten step-grandchildren :Liz Bolton (Gary), Carol Pypker (Jeff), Ted Nokes (Susan), Rob Martyn, Stephen Martyn, Brian Martyn, Catharine Arnold (Andrew), Leslie Ernsting (Paul), Kristie Martyn, Brad Martyn (Scarlet) and 17 great grandchildren.
Beth grew up in Port Perry and as young woman attended Moulton College in Toronto. She travelled to Europe with the school just before the start of WWII - voted most frugal in her souvenir shopping. Upon return to Toronto, she attended Shaw's Business School despite a love of art and a job offer as a designer. After graduating, she worked at the Provincial Guardian's Office while managing a busy social life. She met Bill Brydon, an engineering student, while skating at U of T. They married in 1941. Bill designed planes for the war while Beth decorated their home in Leaside, then in Brampton. Their first child, Wendy, was born in 1943 and at three year intervals arrived Laraine and Bill Jr. Beth learned how to cook for the first time using to the Canadian Food Guide and supported her husband's political career.
After their divorce in 1964, Beth moved with her children to Don Mills and went back to work as a secretary for various Christian organizations. During her summers, she joined her children at Ontario Pioneer Camp, Huntsville. She received the camp name Minty while working in the office and tuck shop, and with the dishwashers in the dinning hall at both Girl's and Boy's Camp. Once all her children were attending post-secondary institutions, she returned to Port Perry to look after her mother.
There she met Allen Martyn who shared her love of travelling. They married in 1973. Together they travelled the world: Australia, Hawaii, Israel, Europe, and Morocco. On alternate years they explored North America in their motor home. Back in Port Perry, she welcomed their families (now expanded to 15 grandchildren) and entertained friends from far and wide in the home Allen built for them on Lake Scugog. After Allen developed Lou Gehrig's disease, she cared for him till his death in 1995.
In the next phase of her life, Beth moved to Lanark County and spent her summers at The Snug, her log cottage near her daughter Laraine. Eventually, she decided to move into a retirement residence in Carleton Place and later downtown Ottawa.
Throughout her later years, she continued to grow in her Christian faith, to explore alternative healthy lifestyles (always ahead of the curve), to visit auctions and garage sales, to express her artistic side in folk art and to indulge her love of animals and birds. Her great-grandchildren always looked forward to seeing her last pet, a bird named Samantha. She celebrated her 80th, 85th, and 90th birthdays by swimming in the lake at the cottage. Active and living independently till three months ago, Beth (Grandma Minty) enjoyed a free and full life.
After her recent cancer diagnosis, her family is grateful for the loving care she received at both the Ottawa General Hospital and Elisabeth Bruyere Palliative Care. Donations may be made in her memory to a charity of your choice.
Visitation will be held at Bromley Road Baptist Church, 1900 Lauder Drive, Ottawa, ON K2A 1B1 on Thursday, December 1st, 2011 from 7:00 ? 9:00 pm. A Service will be held at Bromley Church on Friday, December 2nd , 2011 at 11:00 am.
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