July 6, 1948 - May 31, 2021
It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Betty Anne Park (nee Long). Betty has passed away suddenly, but peacefully in the North Bay Regional Health Center. She fought a valiant but short battle with bowel and liver cancer. Betty was the beloved wife of Micheal for 53 years. Predeceased by her parents Chester and Grace Long, as well as her daughter Tammy. A dear mother to Jeff (Barb) Park, Carrie (Mike) Wilkinson, and Brad (Kimberly) Park. Nana will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren Tamara (Dan), Kaitlynn (Dustin), Hailey, Spencer, Tyler, and Ryley. She will be dearly missed by her siblings Ed (Lorraine) Long, and Eric (Donna) Long. She was a dear sister-in-law to Marilyn, Meredith (Margie), and Malcolm. Being asked to describe Nana’s life is one of the greatest honours of mine (Tamara). But it is one I don’t believe I have the words to fully express. To describe a person who was as beautiful, fun, loving, wild, and free as she was is like trying to describe the feeling of joy. There are just not enough words. To summarize Nana’s life is like trying to describe the most breathtaking sunset, it’s simply something you had to experience to understand. We were some of the lucky ones who got to know, to love, to live a life alongside of Nana. And today as she has passed, I think this is one of the few times in my life where I truly cannot describe the loss I feel without her now. The world simply has stopped spinning, and it never will be the same again. And yet, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that I could call her nana. I thank God for the hours Nana and I spent in the Dairy Queen parking lot traveling the world together. For the adventures we took in our own imagination. For how many times, even the last time I got to visit with her, I laughed until my stomach hurt. She was a woman that changed and touched every one of our lives. Some of her favourite things in life were summers at the cottage with her family, and particularly with her many nieces and nephews. They spent many years at Walley Lake and have made more memories there than most people have in a lifetime. She was a creative woman who told many stories to her grandkids. We grandkids remember many of Nana’s stories that lead us to adventures in unknown lands. Tamara remembers stories of Little Bo Peep, and stories that had a “verte grenouille” (a green frog) in it… to which we are quite certain were still the only French words she knew to this day. Kaitlynn remembers starting her love for makeup with Nana as she drew all over her face for hours, and learning how to dye Nana’s hair. One time she even turned Nana’s hair blue. We remember all of her visits with Grandma and Grandpa Long every Wednesday, for shopping trips and lots of visits with the grandkids. Spencer remembers many stories of Pepé le Pew and many tales of him chasing beautiful girls all over. These stories never ended well for poor Pepé. She would spend not only hours telling us stories, but also spent hours learning how to crochet animals with her granddaughter Hailey in this past year. These animals Nana created were nothing short of an abstract beautiful creation that made her, and everyone else, laugh with glee of her efforts. Tyler and Ryley also spent hours upon hours playing play dough with Nana at her kitchen table. They both laugh and remember when Nana and Papa made silly birthday videos with them. We will miss Nana’s big hugs, her laugh and her scones! After Tyler and Ryley had heard the news of Nana’s passing, they had gone fishing in their backyard. This was one of their most eventful fishing trips yet because of all the butterflies around them. Nana had always said she would come and see us as a butterfly. We knew this was a sign from above, and after hours of Tyler and Ryley chasing butterflies around their yard... we know Nana has sprouted her own wings and is now flying to Heaven. Whenever we see a butterfly, we will always think of our beautiful Nana, and the legacy she has left for us to follow. One of compassion and of endless love. Due to COVID restrictions, we will be planning a Celebration of Life to fully celebrate Betty Anne with all of the people who loved her deeply at a later date. If desired a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation would be acknowledged by the family.