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GIRTEL, Betty Ann It is with great sorrow that her family announces the passing of Betty Ann Girtel on Tuesday, October 20th at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. She lived her life with grace, dignity and strength until the very end. Betty Ann leaves to mourn her children Kim, Guy (Geraldine) and Blair (Chuck Blanaru), and her beloved grandchildren Ryan Girtel, and Elle, Beau and Liv Blanaru. She will also be sorely missed by her brother, Bernie Sorenson (Irene), numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and her many special friends in Nanaimo, Edmonton, and around the world, including Bent Harder. Betty Ann was born on a farm in Southern Saskatchewan during the depression to a warm and loving family. She trained as a nurse at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Regina where she met Lyle, the love of her life. Following their marriage in 1955 they raised three children, Kim, Guy and Blair, and spent most of their married life in Edmonton. Betty Ann returned to nursing in the late sixties and worked for over thirty years in paediatrics at the University of Alberta Hospitals where she touched the lives of thousands of families. She and Lyle retired to Nanaimo, B.C. in 1996 in order to be close to family. Known for her elegance and good taste, she enjoyed shopping, decorating and the arts. Despite the passing of Lyle in 1997, she continued to live her life with gusto - travelling, gardening, bridge, hiking, and especially socializing! Betty Ann loved people and people loved her. Family was at the core of her existence and she took pride in the achievements of her children and grandchildren. Mom led by example and taught us so much without ever raising her voice. She was strong, yet compassionate, with uncommon good sense that she offered, but never imposed. She lived by the golden rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Friends are invited to share their memories of Betty Ann at a celebration of her life on Tuesday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m. at the Nanaimo Golf Club, 2800 Highland Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy friends may make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. in Betty Ann's name. We love her and will miss her dearly. Published in the Edmonton Journal on 10/24/2009