Tribute

Bertha Louise Chambers was born on July 27, 1936 to Edward and Alice Chambers (nee Geldart) in Mechanic Settlement, Kings County, New Brunswick. Mom was their last child; the baby of the family. The family later moved to their farm in Elgin, N.B., where mom grew up surrounded by siblings, doing her chores on the farm. Both of our parents (Bill Sketchley) grew up on farms, during the Depression. Mom recounted the many days they had pancakes for breakfast, pancakes for lunch, and pancakes for dinner. The family was grateful to have pancakes to eat.

Mom left school before she graduated. She worked as a cook in a café/diner. She also looked after children in their household. This is the job mom was doing when she met her husband to be, Bill Sketchley. Mom was helping out a family with two small children and a newborn. Dad was back east from Powell River, BC (working for MacMillan Bloedel; the company) to attend a sister’s wedding when he met mom. He knew then, she was the woman he would marry.

Bill and Bertha married September 15, 1955 in N.B. They had three children; Ivan (Kelly), Deborah, and Donna. Ivan was named after Dad’s younger brother Ivan who drowned in his early teens. Deborah and Donna were named after twins mom looked after.

Bill and Bertha were married 63 years before Bill passed (over 5 years ago) and spent their lives in Powell River, BC. Bertha was a member of the Moose. She also volunteered with the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary. Mom and her friend Louis Rourke hand quilted baby quilts for the Auxiliary to sell. Mom and Louis also knit hundreds of toques, scarves, and mitts for those in need.

Bertha was a good cook and a baker. She was known for her Sunday roast beef dinners complete with mashed potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Mom made the best baking powder biscuits, especially her cheese biscuits. And while growing up, her three children would return home from school to a dining table full of homemade loaves of bread, doughnuts, pies, cakes, cookies. Mom showed us she loved us through her cooking, baking, quilt making, knitting, etc. Mom even made her own fondant filled chocolates, hand dipped, from scratch with Bill, her partner and fellow candy maker. They made chocolates every year for Christmas time.

Bertha mourned Bill every day after he passed. Mom finally got her wish, and joined Dad on Saturday April 22, 2023. Mom went into Emergency the end of March 2023, and within a month she was gone. Mom went on her own terms; quickly, and very peacefully.

Mom is greatly mourned by her children, Ivan (Kelly, granddaughter Lauren, husband Andre, and great granddaughter Maya, and grandson Conor), Deborah, and Donna (grandsons Brian, Clayton, his partner Charley and mom’s great granddaughter Dahlia, MacNeil, and Shea). She is missed by her two best friends, Moyra and Margaret. Her sister, Hilda MacPherson. And in-laws Raymond Sketchley and Shirley Douthwright. Many cousins, multiple nieces and nephews all the way to the great, great, great nephew. Sincere thanks to our cousin Patti Anderson who visited mom daily. And our most sincere heartfelt thanks to mom’s health care providers; doctors and nursing staff at St. Paul’s CICU and the Cardiac Care Unit, qathet Regional Hospital Emergency staff and doctors, 4^th Floor nurses and mom’s Family Doctor, for about 30 years, Dr. Schweitzer. The medical care staff was phenomenal!!! So very kind, caring, and compassionate.

Please feel free to make a donation to a charity of your choice in mom’s name. There will be a Celebration of Life towards the end of August, beginning of September.