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The children of Betty Ride are saddened to share the news of their mother’s passing. Betty (Elizabeth) Margarite Ride, Born February 26, 1948, passed away quietly in her sleep on September 16, 2025, at the age of 77.
Betty was the daughter of Kenneth (Garnet) Price and Isabelle Moore. Betty was married to Robert Ride for 54 years before his passing less than year ago December 21, 2024. Betty is survived by her children Kevin (Carrie), Sean (Sarah), and Carrie (Charlie), and her grandchildren Audrey, Erin, Owen, Noah, Devin, Charlotte, and Charles. She was the sister of Judy (George) and Richard (Isabelle), and nieces and nephews Patty, Allen, Ben and Tom.
Our mother was a lifelong and proud resident of the picturesque North Hatley, Quebec. She grew up on a farm and often told many stories of her rural upbringing. The farm was originally a dairy farm until a fire destroyed the barn. Many of the stories she told were of the barn fire, the rescue and caring for burned animals, and the generosity of good neighbors who came with tools and free labor to help build a new barn. That barn would later hold mainly Hereford beef but also chickens, stables for horses and ponies and the occasional pig. There was plenty of hard work on the farm but also an abundance of joy and laughter. When her brother Richard was sick, a horse was brought into the house to cheer him up. A day of hard work and haying usually ended with a large meal and family celebration, cold drinks and card games. Later, when her and her siblings had young families, the farmyard became a center of activity to transform the hay wagon into a float for the nearby Hatley Canada Day parade.
Betty graduated from high school in North Hatley and then completed Secretarial School in Sherbrooke Quebec. Somewhere along the way she met Robert Ride, also of North Hatley. At that time there was a bus that went from North Hatley to Sherbrooke and many of their dates were to go see movies there. Unfortunately, the bus and movie schedules didn’t align. They would get to the theatre in time to catch the end of a movie, and then they would watch the beginning of the same movie during the second showing, needing to leave early enough to catch the last bus back to North Hatley.
Betty married Robert on July 4, 1970, and they settled in a little house along the Massawippi River, mom and dad would live there for over 50 years. Betty became a homemaker and a year later would become a mother to Kevin and later would have two more children, Sean then Carrie.
Mom’s hardworking farm girl values persisted, and the property boasted a very large garden. Harvest time involved canning, freezing, cold storage and a porch with free vegetables for the neighbors. Betty enjoyed her flower gardens as well as crafting. She knitted, crocheted and smocking, quilted and later got into rug hooking. Her most proud crafting achievement was a giant white quilt with intricately cross stitched red, pink and green roses that took her over 3 years to complete.
Mom was active in the community. She was a Girl Guide and Brownie leader for many years even before her daughter Carrie joined the movement. And later she became the Girl Guide Commissioner to the local area. She also organized a high school reunion with a sock-hop theme. As children, we recall many hours of mom on the phone making arrangements and tracking down former students of the North Hatley High School.
Before they were at school age, Betty babysat her two nephews Ben and Tom and later would watch them after school. Mom grew very fond of both of them, was proud of having an impact on their lives and enjoyed watching them growing into the men that they are today.
In our youth, mom divided her summertime between the garden and what locals refer to as the ‘Pleasant View’ beach. Mom took us there for swimming and tennis lessons and/or to just cool off in the lake. Later she would do the same with Ben and Tom.
Betty also worked outside the home. She served food and drink and sometimes cooked at dinner parties in prestigious homes and clubs in and around North Hatley. She was well liked and in high demand and her summers were always busy. It was not unusual for her to work at an early party and then leave for a later party on the same night. Sometimes she would have a luncheon, then a dinner party and end the evening with a cocktail party. Clients, learning that mom was already booked, would often offer her more money to steal her away, but she always declined those offers politely and would then spend time searching out other qualified people to fill the request.
Later in life, mom enjoyed everything her location offered, the warm sun and southeastern view of the Massawippi River, her flower gardens, birds at her feeder and her rug hooking group. Most of all she enjoyed the companionship and support of her neighbors. To all who were good friends and helped our mother, before and after our father’s passing, we thank you!
Our Mother possessed a rare blend of humility and pride. She was grateful and respectful of the place she lived; she was resourceful and resilient but also warm, caring and compassionate. Many would say that her laughter was infectious, she had a warm smile and a heart of gold. We will miss our mother dearly!
Cremation will take place, and a gathering of friends and family will happen on the farm where she grew up. Her ashes will be scattered in the field that already holds our father’s ashes.
In Betty’s memory, donations to the Charity of Your Choice would be appreciated by the family. Some suggestions include, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Bleu Massawippi, or Scouts Canada.
