Jul 8, 1930 - Dec 27, 2017
Betty was born July 8, 1930, the second of six daughters, to Sandor (Alex) Ostermayer and Julia (nee Kranich) in Bruno, Saskatchewan. During the Depression they moved to Abbotsford, BC. Betty grew up speaking Hungarian and English.
As a young woman she moved to Vancouver, worked at a coffee shop, and met a handsome soldier who began to visit regularly. Monty (Marcel) de Montigny asked her out and a few months later asked her to marry. They wed on June 10, 1950.
After moving to Surrey, Gerald was born March 11, 1953, followed by Brian December 6, 1956. In 1959, Betty opened her own restaurant in Gearmatic, a machine-shop in Surrey. Monty was also hired and worked for Gearmatic for the next 25 years. Betty left her restaurant in 1971 to work in kitchens at the Royal Towers Hotel, the Newton Inn and Forensic Psychiatric Institute. She retired in 1990.
Betty and Monty were avid anglers and vacationers. First in a camper, then in motorhomes, usually towing a boat behind, they toured North America. Imagine Betty, at 4 feet 11 inches sitting atop pillows to see above the steering-wheel of a 33-foot motorhome, backing a boat trailer into the water as Monty directed her.
From Surrey, Betty and Monty moved to Fort Langley, and then in 1992 after regular trips to Nelson to visit Brian, his wife Caroline, and grand-daughter Alexandra, they moved again, buying a home on Delbruck Street. They continued to travel until Monty suffered a series of strokes. Broader Horizons helped Monty until his death in 2006.
Betty continued as a loved volunteer. Betty remained independent, and would head out alone in her minivan to visit sisters in Edmonton or on the coast. While in Edmonton, Betty suffered a stroke, fell, and was hospitalized. Thus, began her long struggle with dementia. She too became a client at Broader Horizons. Our family wants to thank the caring and loving staff at Broader Horizons for their support.
First Betty moved into Lakeview Village and then to Jubilee Manor. Jubilee provided the best possible home for Betty, as she was surrounded by caring and loving staff. We thank everyone at Jubilee for their care and attention. Betty, remained strong, though she passed away on December 27.
Betty was a sweet, gentle, kind, loving, giving, funny, smiling, helpful, welcoming, generous, adventurous, independent, hard-working, and energetic person.
She is predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband Monty, and her elder sister Julie.
Betty is survived by sisters Helen, Irene, Mary and Lydia (Mishka), son Gerald, his wife Andrea Trudel, their children Brendan, Julia and Sarah and son Brian, his wife Caroline Foster, their children Alexandra and Ysauld, and countless nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Broader Horizons or Nelson Jubilee Manor.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer.