Betty Marie Duncan (nee McGeagh)

February 9, 1924 – July 28, 2024

It is with profound sadness that our family announces the passing of our dear Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Great-Aunt, Betty Marie Duncan, in her one-hundredth year.

Betty was born in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1924. God gifted Betty with a talent for the keyboard that spanned her entire life. After learning to play (and conquer) the pipe organ in St. Petersburg at an early age, Betty put her talent to good use throughout her life. After moving back to Canada with her family in the late 1930s, Betty played the piano with the Frankie Banks Orchestra in the 1940s, was pianist for the Hanover Musical Society in the 1940s and the 1970s and was honoured to serve as Organist of Grace United Church for several years. Grace United Church was also where Betty was a good and faithful servant of God, serving in various capacities with the United Church Women (UCW).

Professionally, Betty worked for the Town of Hanover in their Municipal Office for five years in the 1940s but had to resign to care for her grandmother.  In 1949, she met and married Ernie and they raised their family in Hanover. During the early 1950s, Betty was one of the first women in the area to become a reporter for the Owen Sound Sun Times and the London Free Press. Later, when Ernie entered municipal politics, Betty was there to support him. They both enjoyed representing their ‘adopted’ hometown of Hanover at functions locally and afar! After Ernie retired, they enjoyed building their dream retirement home together in which they resided for 20 years. Once Ernie passed, Betty found their home too empty, so she moved to Southside Village in Hanover where she enjoyed many friendships with close neighbours. When she needed more support, she moved on to The Village Retirement Residence where she was able to celebrate her 100^th birthday this past February!

Our family would like to thank all of the staff at The Village Retirement Residence, Alison Bryant and a very special thank you to Carol Hudson who helped care for our Mother with kindness, respect and compassion. Each and every one of you helped fill Mom’s days with smiles and goodness.

We would also like to acknowledge Mom’s caring physicians – Doctors Eckensweiler and Lassaline, Nurse Practitioner Melissa Wright, all our caring Nurses, Saugeen Allied & Physiotherapy Centre and Auditory Health Care for helping Mom maintain her health and her dignity, with empathy and genuine concern these past many years.

Finally, our sincere thanks to Mighton Funeral Home for their steadfast guidance and support throughout the years. After she retired, Mom sincerely appreciated the opportunity to play the organ for various funerals at Mighton Funeral Home for over 25+ years!

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Ernest ‘Scotty’ Duncan (2006), as well as her sons Mark (1952) and Brad (2021). She was also predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law George and Ruth Scott and sister and brother-in-law Linda and Paul Ford. Mom is survived by her daughter Andrea (Randy) Martyn and her son Jamie (Rosalee) Duncan. She will be greatly missed by her five grandchildren – Laisha (Michael), Kyle (Kaila), Ashleigh (Mike), Brittany (Shane) and Sam (Trina), as well as her four great-grandchildren. Betty is also survived by her sisters Emily (Don) Booth, and Norma (Wayne) Noble, daughter-in-law Louise Duncan, and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, August 3 at Grace United Church at 11am with a private interment at the Hanover Cemetery.  A reception to honour Betty will take place in the CE building beside Grace United Church at 12:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

In honour of Betty, donations to Youth for Christ, Salvation Army and the Hanover & District Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

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