Betty Keyte
Betty spent much of her life in nursing and in the later part of her career she had been Matron and Sister in Charge of several establishments for elderly people. She went through several periods of strife and personal difficulty, especially when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which put an end to her career.
She worked for a short time at the Diocesan Retreat House at Catherington until she was forced to give up because of her condition. She then found herself without house or home until she was offered a caravan in the grounds of Leigh Park Vicarage by Fr George Royle and his wife, two old friends. Eventually she had a lovely flat at Bedhampton but the stairs became a problem and she moved to The Lodge, Lavender Road in Waterlooville and became a member of St George's.
Betty was a source of great strength and inspiration to many people at the Lodge and elsewhere, not least with the mentally handicapped ladies at St Anne's Home, St Michael's Convent where she befriended several of the residents and escorted them to St George's for the Eucharist. She 'discovered' the fullness of the Catholic Faith and one of her greatest joys was the yearly pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, which she declared was a source of great strength both physical and spiritual. Betty had many interests and gifts, too many to be mentioned here. Her Funeral Requiem was attended by a large congregation and her ashes will be buried in the churchyard.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
written by Fr Malcolm Ferrier
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