With sadness, the family of Isabel Bennett announce her peaceful passing at the Perley Health Care Centre on 07 September 2023 at the age of 98 after a long and fulfilling life.
She was the beloved wife of the late Orval. Left behind to remember with love and memories shared are her sons David (Sandra), Larry (Celia) and Brian (Katherine). Isabel was the cherished grandmother to Jason, Erin, Emma, Derek and Gillian and great-grandmother to Jason. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
Isabel was born in Toronto on 27 December 1924 and spent her early life there with her parents and beloved sister and best friend, Betty.
She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1946 with a degree in occupational therapy. She attended the 70th anniversary of her graduation at the University of Toronto in 2016.
It was at a “Paul Jones” dance at the U of T in 1946, she met Orval, a dashing young naval officer from British Columbia. They were married by the end of the year, starting a seventy-year journey together until Orval’s passing in 2015.
The journey included three postings to London, England and further postings to Nairobi, Kenya and Kingston, Jamaica.
Isabel and Orval loved to travel, visiting more than fifty countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and Oceania.
After Orval’s retirement in 1982, they bought a house in Ft. Myers, Florida and spent many winters there.
Isabel was a long-time member of Rideau Park United Church and an active member in the UCW for over 50 years.
Friends are invited to a reception to remember Isabel in the Parlour, Rideau Park United Church, 2203 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa on Friday, October 6th, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the truly wonderful caregivers at Perley G2S who cared for Isabel in her final years.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to the Dementia Society, Canadian Red Cross, or Rideau Park United Church.
In keeping with her wishes, a private internment will take place at a later date.
We take comfort in knowing that Isabel is now at peace and will continue her journey with Orval.
Digital Guestbook
Calvin Piggott
Dianne Mason Leclerc
My deepest sympathy to Isabelle’s loving family. I am very thankful for the times I enjoyed with her & I will hold on to all the wonderful memories she helped me create over the past 15 years. She was a fun loving & warm person who will be greatly missed. I am still in NS but my thoughts will be with all of you today.
David & Yoshimi Fournier
To Larry/Celia and family,
We are sorry for your loss. Our warm thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Mike Moran & Lee Benson
To the Bennett family:
Lee and I recently learned of your mom's passing, and we were very sorry to hear that news. Your mom had been a great friend to my mom, Kay Moran, since the 1930s. My mom would visit Is and Orv for a week or two every winter in Florida when they were still wintering down there. If I have the story right, she also stayed with them in Esquimalt for several months after David was born. I visited them in Nairobi in 1979 after I finished serving in a field study in Somalia, and then I saw your mom occasionally in Ottawa in later years when I took my mom there for a visit. I know they also caught up regularly by phone before my mom died in 2011 at age 87, and your mom sent us Christmas cards after that.
Our sincere condolences.
Deepest sympathies to Larry and Isabel's extended family, with thoughts of gratitude for a long and prosperous life filled with a loving family. Warm thoughts from Nova Scotia as we cannot be there on Friday🙏😇🤗❤️