Betty Joan Drance

Betty Joan Drance was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England on the 11th September 1922 and passed away peacefully on the 20th June 2015 at the Vancouver General Hospital after a brief but sudden illness. She died peacefully surrounded by her family. She will be profoundly missed by her husband of 63 years – Stephen, by her children – Jonathan (Anita Walker), Michael (Sylvia Slosel) and Elisabeth (David Harrison), Krista Kehl (Miguel Alamanza), by her grandchildren – Katherine (Collin Crowell), Thomas (Laura Paladino), Sarah, and Rachel and by her great grandchildren – Marie Arcade Crowell and Egon Van Crowell.

Betty’s passion for children made her both a remarkable, devoted, mother & grandmother, and a wise, gifted teacher. After graduating from Stamford’s High School for Girls, Betty enrolled in the Lincoln Diocesan Teachers Training College for Women, and qualified there as an elementary school teacher. After surviving the tragic loss of her first husband George Pemberton, she courageously moved to the Middle East where she taught at the Royal Air Force Children’s school in Egypt and then transferred to Aden where she became Headmistress of the RAF school. It was there she met and fell in love with Stephen, who was a Squadron Leader in the RAF medical service.

Betty and Stephen married in 1952 and lived in Scotland and England where Jonathan and Michael were born. The young family emigrated to Canada in 1957, settling in Saskatoon where Elisabeth was born. In 1963 the family moved to Vancouver for its milder, more English-like climate.

Here Betty acquired new skills of teaching dyslexic children, following which she became a Senior Tutor and was well known for her practical learning assessments and plans, and her hands-on tutoring. Many of her students did well in high school and some graduated successfully from University programs. She developed life-long friendships with many of the students she tutored during that time.

Betty had a vivacious, friendly and attractive personality. She showed a great interest in people of all ages and made friends easily. Betty had a beautiful Oxford vs accent, and a keen love of the English language. “Nana Betty” had timeless elegant fashion sense and was true beauty.

She loved to entertain both family and friends and loved ballroom dancing.

Betty’s family would like to thank Lita Canete and Patricia MacDuff for their love and care during the past few months.

Betty will be sadly missed by her many friends, by everyone in her family and by her adoring lover and partner of 63 years – Stephen Michael Drance.

God bless you and give you peace in your new life!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to her favorite charity – St. Anselm’s Church 5210 University Blvd, Vancouver V6T 2H5.