Tribute

Letabeth (Beth) was born in Ingersoll, Ontario, the oldest daughter with 3 younger brothers to Arthur & Grace Waring. Bethy, as her brothers called her, was one of those young women who chose to help the war effort by working in agriculture, having already completed her advanced music studies in piano. At the end of the war she married Paul Ranney, after he returned from the navy, and started her long career as a piano teacher.

Beth and Paul worked hard with a market gardening business in addition to their jobs, as well as caring for their 3 children. Over the years they transformed their old Salford house into a big comfortable home.

On retirement Beth and Paul moved to Salt Spring Island, where they fit right in with that active and creative community. Beth sang for the Salt Spring Singers and later with the Lost Chords choir. She was the accompanist for a vocal quartet and often played at events where a capable pianist was needed. Throughout her 36 years on Salt Spring Beth volunteered in many roles with OGIFA (supporting production of coffee from Omatepe Island in Nicaragua). She drove, packed groceries and answered phones for Salt Spring Seniors and threw many great parties for these groups.

Beth and Paul were adventurous & loved to travel. Beth organised house exchanges to Australia, Ireland & Italy. They went to Nicaragua, Africa and New Zealand. Visiting Australia 5 times to see their daughter Kathy, they explored wild natural places in preference to cities. Beth made 2 more trips to Australia after Paul was gone, the last in her 90s. She loved swimming in the ocean baths. Beth was strong minded, resourceful and intelligent, a great model for her children.

In her lifetime Beth has grown a lot of food and flowers, played many tunes and sang many songs. She is remembered by friends as a wonderful musician who generously shared her gift. She had great capacity for living life to the fullest and brought a pragmatic acceptance to all that life had to offer. Beth was a caring, considerate and generous person, always looking to help others without being asked. She was a wiz at crosswords and Sudokus, always had a book on the go or a pair of socks being knitted.

Beth is remembered with appreciation and affection by many piano students and missed by her friends at Meadowbrook where she has lived for the past 6 years. She will be greatly missed by her children Kathy and John, her 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Beth said at the end of her life “ don’t mourn me – be happy for me”.  So we celebrate the full and good life she lived.