July 21, 1938 – October 23, 2026 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Betty, a woman who made life brighter, funnier, and infinitely more interesting. 

Betty lived with a spirit that was impossible to miss. She brought energy into every room, laughter into every conversation, and a joy that made people want to stay a little longer. She spent a lifetime bringing family together, caring fiercely for the people she loved, and reminding all of us, often through one of her hilarious sayings, not to take life too seriously. 

Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, in 1938, Betty was the youngest child of Peter and Sarah Bertoli. Raised in Campbell Creek alongside her siblings Roy, Ray, Ross, Jean, and Nora, she grew up in a close family where hard work, loyalty, and looking after one another were simply part of life. 

When Betty cared about you, it was undeniable. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, milestones, and the smallest details mentioned in passing. If something mattered to you, it mattered to Betty. 

Known for her warm smile, quick wit, generous heart, and remarkable ability to make anyone feel welcome, Betty had a gift for making people feel like family. She was the person people called for advice, comfort, or simply a good laugh. When Betty listened, she was fully present, and somehow the rest of the world seemed to melt away. 

She met the love of her life, Edson Joyce, at the KXA, beginning a partnership that would span more than 50 years. Their relationship was built on friendship, devotion, humour, and a tenderness that never faded. In Betty’s final days, Edson remained faithfully by her side. She would look at him, smile, and lovingly say, “You look wonderful, Sugarplum.” Their love was something all who knew them admired. 

Betty spent 38 years working at Safeway, where she built lifelong friendships and became somewhat legendary for her pranks. If something suspicious happened, there was a good chance Betty had something to do with it. 

Family and community were at the center of Betty’s life. She and Edson spent many years at Top of the Hill Farms in Knutsford, helping raise heifers and working alongside family during haying season. Betty adored her cows, named every one of them, and proudly filled photo albums with their pictures. 

For more than two decades, Betty and Edson wintered in Scottsdale, Arizona, creating lasting friendships and treasured memories. They also shared many adventures, including trips to Nova Scotia and a special journey to Tuktoyaktuk in 2019. 

Betty approached everything with enthusiasm. She loved shopping, golfing, Mahjong, cribbage, camping, family gatherings, and, remarkably, even laundry. She meticulously ironed every piece, and her family means every piece! She loved camping too, although packing the Winnebago was another story. 

Then there was driving. Affectionately known as “Betty Andretti,” she was never known for taking her time behind the wheel. Her mischievous streak began young, with family stories ranging from smoking bullrushes at Campbell Creek to “borrowing” her father’s car before she was old enough, or licensed, to drive it. 

Betty was a gifted storyteller with impeccable timing and an unmatched ability to leave everyone in stitches. She loved feeding people and gathering everyone around the table. Her salads became legendary, requested by her grandchildren at nearly every meal. She also loved Chocolatta, licorice, M&Ms, and Mars bars, which, to the delight of her grandsons and nephews, were rarely in short supply. 

She treasured being a grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She was everyone’s sounding board, confidante, and cheerleader, and many lovingly described her as “a mom to one and all.” Her daughters-in-law all agree they could not have asked for a better mother-in-law. 

Betty loved without keeping score, gave without expecting anything in return, and made people feel important simply by being interested in who they were. And she was funny. Truly, funny. Even in her final days, Betty continued bringing lightness and laughter to everyone around her. As her family has always said, she was “a hoot and a toot.” 

Betty was predeceased by her parents, Achille “Pete” and Santa Sarah Bertoli; infant sister Mary; siblings Roy, Ray, Nora, and Jean; nephew Barry; and nieces Jackie and Dianne. 

She is survived by her devoted partner, Edson Joyce; brother Ross (Mairead); sister-in-law Phyllis; stepsons Kevin (Karen), Perry (Trena), and Garth (Pamela); grandsons Dylan (Brook) and Seth; nieces and nephews Joanne (Jack), John (Charleen), Gary (Corrine), Robert (Debbie), and Mark (Donna); great-nieces and great-nephews Marisa (Graham), Taylor (Derrick), Nathan (Julia), Stacey, Ethan, Maria, Jon, Michael, and Randy; great-great-nephew Oliver “Ollie”; and many extended family members and dear friends. 

We will miss her laughter, her stories, her phone calls, her sayings, and the extraordinary way she made each person feel genuinely loved. Her spirit is woven into the generations of this family, and there it will remain. What a gift it was to have her in our lives. 

There will never be another Betty. 

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Schoening Funeral Service, 513 Seymour St., Kamloops, with a reception to follow. 

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Cribb, Dr. Mary Malebranche, Dr. Cindrich, and the nurses and staff on the 7th Floor at Royal Inland Hospital for their compassionate care, kindness, and patience with Betty and her many family visitors. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. 

You may offer a message of condolence at Schoening Funeral Service for the Swirid family. 

• Date : 2026-10-23
• Location : Kamloops