Elsie "Beth" Damiani

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our matriarch, Beth. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and family historian. She lived a long and joyous life, leaving behind a legacy of love, compassion, dignity, and quiet determination.

Beth was born in Port Elgin, Ontario to a prominent Scottish-Canadian family and moved west to the Blindman Valley School District, north west of Rimbey in 1932. Life on the family homestead was filled with hard work and the love of her parents, 3 brothers, and 4 sisters. As a young schoolgirl, she would later catch the eye of her future husband while attending a baseball game at the local schoolhouse. As the eldest daughter, her responsibilities were many, and necessitated leaving school early to help support her younger siblings throughout their education. After moving to Rimbey, Beth worked in retail, renting a small apartment which she shared with her younger sisters, allowing them to finish school in town. It was during this time her love of fashion blossomed, in stark contrast to the “one pair of shoes” she’d been limited to growing-up.

In 1950, she married the love of her life, Reno Damiani with whom she built a happy life, spending nearly 70 years together. While farming in the Fuller District west of Rimbey, their family grew to 2 sons and 3 daughters. Family life was filled with hard work, laughter, extended family, lifelong friends, camping, news of the day, garden-fresh vegetables, delicious pies and the best pancakes.

After a tragic vehicle accident injured daughter Barbara in 1972, Beth fought alongside Reno for a new model of accident victim care, leaving a legacy that continues to improve the lives of similarly impacted families in Alberta.

In 1990 she and Reno moved to Lacombe where they thrived, embracing an active retirement, forming new friendships, building community, and hitting the road in their 5th wheel throughout Canada and the US.

In 2017 she (and Reno) moved to Red Deer for assisted living, where she maintained a sunny and positive outlook throughout, and continued to charm and brighten the room for those around her. After Reno passed in March 2020, Beth persevered, later beating covid twice – a testimony to her resilience. In her final years as dementia took-hold, thoughts of family and those dearest to her did not escape her; memories from childhood, motherhood, family, and a life well-lived still clear as ever.

Beth is dearly missed by her sons, Jim (Leith) and David (Joyce); daughters, Linda, Barbara, and Terri (Silvio); grandchildren, Travis, Casey, Matthew (Jenn), Erin (Dan), Nathan, and Kendra (Brandt); great-grandson Benjamin; brothers Allen (Evelyn) and Ken (Jean); sister Alice; son in-law Vern; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Reno in 2020; parents Robert and Elsie McCulloch; brother and sister in-law Bob and June McCulloch; sister and brother in-law Glada and Bob Friesen; sisters Ila Unger (Bruno), and Erma Steele (Herb); brother in-law and sister in-law Wilfred and Lena Marchildon; brother in-law Bob Whitesell; brother in-law and sister in-law Reg and Shirley Damiani.

The family would like to thank the staff at Points West Living for their many years of support, and to the staff at Bethany College Side for their tender care of Beth and compassion for the family at her bedside. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In Beth’s memory, donations can be made to Catholic Social Services, www.cssalberta.ca or Central Alberta Brain Injury Society, www.cabisbrain.com