Elizabeth (“Beth”) Boyd died November 28, 2023 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Following a fall that broke her hip and leg in July, she spent an extended period convalescing and had begun physio. Sadly, shortly after joking with hospital staff she passed away unexpectedly, leaving her family surprised and heartbroken.
Beth, born June 25, 1945 was the younger daughter of Gord and Muriel (Mel) Boyd.
Beth grew up in Midland and attended Midland Penetang District Highschool. She trained as an OT assistant in Kingston and worked at the Penetang Mental Health Center for several years until she moved to Winnipeg, where she worked in a senior’s home. She moved to Ponoka, Alberta where she lived for several years where she worked as a recreational therapist before managing a local law practice. She returned to Ontario in 1986 to live in Peterborough, where she initially worked as a bookkeeper for several offices.
Her real job was to brighten the lives of others with her irrepressible sense of humour. Although her extended family lived in Midland, Orangeville and Nunavut, she maintained a close relationship with all of them. Thanks to her love of cooking, her legacy includes many carefully annotated cookbooks (“forget the liver souffle”). Although her kidneys stopped working in recent years, this tiny bundle of independence learned home dialysis and hooked herself up to her system every night.
Beth was pre-deceased by her parents. Her much-loved sister Bev passed away May 28, 2006. She leaves behind her brother-in-law Jack Wilford, Jack’s partner Barb Nicholls, her niece and nephew Karen (Peter) and Bruce (Wendy) Wilford and great-nephews Kierson, Liam and Alex. Beth was much beloved by all and she leaves a gap in many hearts.
Beth donated her body to Queens University to the Human Body Donor Program at Queen’s School of Medicine, again, contributing to the lives of others. She did not want a service or remembrance ceremony but her family are certain that she will be remembered with affection by all who encountered her.
