Frances “Betty” Wagner

My mother, at age 96, left us on June 12, 2019 to be united with my father, Edward “Ted” Charles Wagner, Jr. who passed away December 13, 1998.

Betty was born in Maidenhead, just outside of London, England on March 5, 1923. She was the only child of George & Dorothy Shelton. Mom was 16 when the Second World War started & spent six years in blackouts & bomb shelters. My father had joined the RAF & was stationed at Headquarters in London. He always joked that he never knew what she looked like until after the war. Betty & Ted were married in Brentford, England, May 26, 1945.

Betty left England on the Queen Mary, August 1946 and landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She travelled by train to Calgary, where she was met by my dad. He brought her back to the family farm in Nanton where they resided until 1975. Mom & Dad had a good social life in the community & enjoyed raising my brother & me there. Many friends & relatives came to stay over the years. Mom always yearned for the city life so when the farm was sold they moved to Calgary for their retirement years.

Mom was a woman of principles & values. She was petite & had a small voice but wore the pants in the family! I was often the recipient of the “wooden spoon”! I called her the mom with the “stiff, British upper lip”! Betty was kind, generous & forgiving. I was fortunate to have her love in spite of the challenges I presented.

My journey led me to Cranbrook, BC in 2007 & brought mom out a year later. In 2017, I relocated to Vernon, BC.  I arranged for Mom to come up four months later.  Wherever I went, I always took her with me.

There are so many kind & generous people to thank over the years that gave us their support; friends & staff at Joseph Creek Care Village in Cranbrook, BC; caregivers at Heritage Square in Vernon, BC.  I want to express my sincere gratitude to all who cared for & loved my mother. There are not enough words to convey my appreciation to my many friends who have listened to me over the years about mom & now with her passing. Thank you, thank you, each & everyone of you.

Surviving relatives are Beverly (Hersh); my brother, Garry (Darlene); his daughter Kristy (Ryan) their two sons, Kevin & Jace; his daughter Stephanie (Matt). We will miss her dearly.

The family will get together at a later date to celebrate her life. God speed, my mother.

“In death there is a reaffirmation of life for those who are left behind, knowing that they will be reunited with those who have gone before them and will be joined forever in the hereafter”.

Email address: [email protected].

Phone: 250-550-5575

Address: 3903 – 38 Street Vernon, BC V1T 7J3

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