As many of you will know, Dr. Bette M. Stephenson-Pengelly passed away on Monday night, August 19, 2019 at the age of 95. Bette had a remarkable career (please follow this link for her obituary: https://rskane.ca/tribute/details/11433/Dr-Bette-Stephenson/obituary.html#tribute-start). But beyond her many accomplishments, she was an amazing individual, and I want to share a brief story with you to reveal something of her human side.
My wife, Connie, and I used to visit Bette at her home on Forest Ridge Road, Richmond Hill. We shared a mutual interest in gardening, and one spring she asked if we had trilliums in our garden, which we did not. She very proudly told us of the many trilliums in the ravine behind her house (she was particularly proud of the red ones) and invited us to help ourselves. But in true Bette fashion, being such a kind, caring person, as we began digging the plants, she was so concerned about our being eaten alive by the mosquitos that she hurried back into the house for insect repellant and insisted on spraying us from head to toe to ensure we would be protected. That day, our garden was the recipient of so many glorious trilliums, courtesy of Bette, and they continue to remind us of her generosity to this day. She also enjoyed bird watching, particularly hummingbirds, and her feeders on the back porch saw a constant stream of her feathered friends.
Dr. Bette Stephenson-Pengelly inspired everyone with whom she came in contact, was a powerhouse of a personality, and had a long, distinguished career in medicine and politics. But in addition to her many talents and contributions to society, Bette was a thoughtful, caring, loving person who will be sorely missed by us all. We will forever cherish the memory of our dear friend, particularly her warm, kind smile.
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