Sep 28, 1930 - Nov 17, 2017
Bea, a beloved resident of Czorny Alzheimer Center, passed away peacefully in Surrey BC, on November 17, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Born in Okotoks, Alberta on September 28, 1930, the 3rd daughter of John (Jack) & Evelyn (Vera) Patterson. Bea was very proud of her Okotoks, Alberta roots, and her family. She remained very close to her sisters, Doris, Evelyn and Thelma throughout their lives.
Bea married Ev Haybarger in Edmonton, Alberta in 1950 and they had two sons, Allen and Robin. With Ev's work as an electrician, the Haybargers lived in Edmonton, Penticton and Prince George. The family moved to North Vancouver in 1973 and Bea has lived in BC since then. Ev passed away in 1993. They had separated and remained good friends.
Bea was a very talented individual, and no project was too complicated for her. She helped to construct the Haybarger family cabin in Whistler, BC in 1973. She went back to school and completed her Professional Credit Management Certificate while in her 40s. Never one to sit still for long without a goal, Bea skied well into her 60's, and she golfed every Tuesday with a women's league. She was an avid walker, and regularly walked the White Rock promenade.
She was an accomplished sewer, designing and sewing most of her own clothing, & she worked with Interior Designers to design and make home decor items that wowed customers. She was a beautiful quilter, making quilts for her family, her grandchildren's wedding gifts and for the Cloverdale Seniors Center craft sales. She also could swing a hammer, and tackled renovations in several of her homes. Her nickname "Busy Bea" accurately describes her passion for doing things for others.
An active member of the Cloverdale Seniors Centre in Surrey, BC she volunteered time to complete tax returns for other seniors. She participated in the Computer Club and developed her computer skills, which turned out to be something she really enjoyed. She then started an email network with her sisters, and using a special scanner, scanned all of the family photo slides into jpeg images so she could share them. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Seniors Center for many terms, acting as their Treasurer.
It was at the Seniors Center where Bea met Walter Michaluk and he introduced her to square dancing. She loved dancing and they, along with the Surrey Square Wheelers, danced three times a week, and at parades, the rodeo, and road trips to jamborees. Bea enjoyed music and dancing right through to the end of her life.
Although she was small in stature, Bea was a force; she made all things possible in her life. She owned a time share in Mexico, and she traveled there annually, with her sisters, and later with Walter and friends. If she had a goal, it became reality, due to her ability to manage her money, save, and invest in completing her goals. This is the legacy that her family will carry forward.
Bea is survived and missed by her loving sister Doris Hayes, two sons and their wives, Allen (Judy Lindenbach) & Robin (Debra Hauptman). 'Nana' will be missed but never forgotten by her 5 Grandchildren Steven Haybarger (Beverly), Michelle Battaglia (Marc), Jessica Haskell (Ryan), Todd & Kyle Hauptman and 4 beautiful Great Grandchildren Alyssa & Julia Battaglia and Emma & Jackson Haybarger. While we are saddened by her passing, we are relieved that her long struggle with dementia has ended.
The family will be honoring Bea's death privately and would like to take this opportunity to thank the caring staff of Czorny Alzheimer Center for the wonderful care, respect, & kindness shown to Bea over her extended stay. A special thanks to the staff at Langley Lodge also, and the staff at the Come Share Society Adult Day Program.
Those wishing to honour Bea in her passing, may make a donation in her memory to the Seniors Come Share Society in Surrey, BC (Charity Reg # 12990849 RR0001 or HTTP://COMESHARE.CA) or the Langley Care Foundation, Langley BC, (873939029 RR0001) or www.langleylodge.org/donate .