Obituary of Bette Brooker
Elizabeth ‘Bette’ Ethel Brooker (nee Authier)
January 9, 1936 -August 6, 2023
Bette, at 87, passed away peacefully at her home in Tilbury on Sunday August 6 th in the comforting company of her two daughters.
Pre-deceased by her husband Carmen ‘Ralph’ and her brothers Alfred and Jack.
She is survived by her daughters Dana (Glen Benison) and Sandra (Ed Hooker), her grandchildren Elizabeth, Matthew, Ethan and DJ and great grandson Oliver.
Bette grew up in a wonderful loving farm family in Romney Township, she was the valedictorian of Leamington High School in 1956, graduated from Teachers College in London and then began her teaching career in a one-room school house in Galt, Ontario and ended her career in Tilbury. After retiring from the schoolroom, Bette dedicated time to raising her daughters while also toiling with thefarm work. She later worked at McGuire’s Farm and Recreational Equipment company for several fun years. Having grown up on a farm, Bette was determined to not marry a farmer but was swept off her feet by Ralph Brooker a hard-working farmer and there she settled. Her summers and post-teaching years found her rolling up her sleeves and happily helping on the farm homestead. She downsized and moved into Tiibury in 2002, a few years after Ralph’s death. She led a very active social life from youth onwards, contributing to many community events through
her devotion to her church groups including being a representative with the regional United Church Women. She was a pianist, a member of a bell choir and loved to participate in family reunion songfests. She traipsed through the woodlands participating in geocaching hunts with her grandchildren. She was a voracious reader, book club member, tough card player, an extreme lover of cats (both domestic and strays), a keen observer of the world news and a New York Times Wordler to the end. She was a very independent, strong woman who survived cancer twice in her earlier years and fought hard through this third confrontation.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society 1375 Provincial Road, Windsor https://windsorhumane.org
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday August 20 th at the Tilbury Knights of Columbus 20 Dupuis Avenue, beside the arena. Time 1:00 – 4:00 pm. The family invites to you attend and share your memories of Bette.
A cremation has taken place and the immediate family will gather at the gravesite at a later date.