Betty Ireland

IRELAND Betty Alleen (nee Shantz) August 15, 1921 - April 7, 2009Our beloved Betty passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital on April 7, 2009. Daughter of Fred and Leila Shantz, Betty is survived by her loving family: children Mike (Mary), Dan, Judy, and Tim (Laura); grandchildren Mike Jr., Erin, Evan, Rebekah, Kelsey, and Samuel; great-grandchildren Matthew and Taylor; twin sister Peggy Tyler, nephew Herb Tyler (Linda), and life-long friend Thelma Graham (James). Mom grew up in the Southlands of Vancouver, where she attended Point Grey Junior High School and later Magee High School, excelling in sports. During World War II, she served as Corporal in the US Army WACs as an aide to General George Stratemeyer in India and China. Meeting Madame Chiang Kai-shek and being offered her stylish red shoes was one of Mom's favourite memories from her time spent overseas. Betty married Seaforth Highlander RSM Rainsford H.W. Ireland, moved to Portland, Oregon, and gave birth to four children before returning home to Vancouver seven years later. Forced to raise her family alone, Mom selflessly devoted her life to this challenge. She is widely praised for her courage, perseverance, humility, and protective nature. We will always remember her compassion for others, her unselfish nature, her limitless generosity, and the immense love she showered upon her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the many to whom she had become a second mother. She left us with the verses from Matthew 6:19 - 34, which encourages us to disregard the anxious pursuit of material possessions, and to instead focus our lives on laying up treasures in heaven. We cherish how her life exemplified these verses and know heaven is where our precious treasure Betty now resides. Friends, please join the Ireland family when we celebrate Mom's life on Thursday, April 30th, 2009, 2:30 p.m., at St. Mary's Kerrisdale Church: 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Chapter of the Canadian Hemophilia Society.