Obituary of Betty Mitham

It is with great sadness that the family of Elizabeth Anne Mitham announce her passing on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Kennebec Manor, Saint John, NB. Born in Dartmouth, NS, on August 12, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Reginald and Dorothy (Bayard) Goodday.

Raised in Rothesay, NB, Betty attended Netherwood School for Girls (Class of ’46) then studied home economics for a year at Saint John Vocational School. Drawn to nursing, she trained at the Jeffrey Hale Hospital in Quebec City, graduating in 1951. She worked in operating rooms while considering further studies in surgery at John Hopkins in the US. But a young surveyor, Walter Mitham, invited her to Quebec City’s winter carnival. After a brief courtship, the two married on April 6, 1953, and settled in Montreal, welcoming a daughter, Sheila, and a son, Bruce. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1959, but returned east in 1962 to homes in Roxboro, QC, Saint John, NB, and Rockingham, NS, where their son Peter was born. In 1972, the family moved to Pointe Claire, QC. Retiring to Kingston, NB, in 1988, Betty established a network of trails through their property that brought her closer to the nature she loved. Betty moved to Hampton following Walter’s death.

Wherever she went, Betty made lasting friendships and contributed to her community as the neighbourhood nurse, through her church as a choir member and warden, and multiple social groups including curling and square dancing clubs, the United Empire Loyalists, Kennebecasis Naturalist Society and the Hampton Seniors Resource Centre. With the encouragement of her daughter Sheila, she became a regular in the annual Hampton 5-Miler, achieving top standing in her age category. She also hauled hay on Bruce’s farm and was her son Peter’s first editor. Despite macular degeneration in her later years, she remained a keen birdwatcher and naturalist.

Betty is survived by her sons Bruce (Sarah) of Midland, NB, and Peter of Vancouver, BC; nine grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and a large extended family.

Besides her parents, Betty was predeceased by her husband Walter, daughter Sheila Burns, brother Bayard Goodday and sister Joan Lugar.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Reid’s Funeral Home (506-832-5541), 1063 Main Street, Hampton, NB, where visitation will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00pm. The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Hampton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Betty may be made to Bird Studies Canada, Fernhill Cemetery, Canadian Cancer Society or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences to the family and charitable donations may be made through ReidsFH.com.