Remembering Betty Pedersen, former Aurora councillor and longtime volunteer

‘She was always busy doing things for the people of Aurora’

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 10, 2023
Melissa Wallace

Family, friends and community members gathered at a funeral service on Feb. 8 to celebrate the life of Betty Marie Pedersen (Dalton), a woman with a “ready smile” and welcoming spirit.

Pedersen was born in 1938 and grew up in Peterborough. She has said she played nurse when she was a little girl and then pursued it as a career, working in Peterborough, Barrie and Newmarket.

In 1959, she married Bert Pedersen and moved to Aurora in 1961. She left nursing to stay at home with their four children, Sandra, Diane, Bruce and Brian.

“My mom was many things to many people over the course of her life, but to me, she was an extraordinary mom who proved to be a source of great inspiration throughout my life,” said Sandra. “She was very smart, had a keen intellect and could converse on just about any topic.”

Sandra shared fond memories of her mother’s hospitable nature and warm sense of humour, and a house where neighbours, friends and family were always dropping by. She also remembers weekly library visits that instilled a love of learning and reading in her children.

“My mom wrote a book review column in the Aurora Banner for years, and I can remember seeing her on our couch reading books and being willing to talk to us about what she was reading,” recalls Sandra.

Betty was an Aurora councillor on and off for more than 15 years between 1978 and 2003.

“My mom had this love of her community, and she believed that everybody was valuable and she had so much to offer people,” said Sandra. “She had a tremendous work ethic.

“She was always busy doing things for the people of Aurora. If the phone rang during dinner, my mom would answer it because, if it was a constituent, she wanted to hear from them.”

She married former Newmarket councillor Bob Scott in 1993 and moved to Newmarket. She quickly became part of the lives of Bob’s children, Steve (Mary), Russ (Donna), Jeff (Sandra) and their families.

Betty continued to be involved in Aurora and hosted a weekly show, “Council in Action.” Her many community projects and commitments included the Aurora Seniors Centre, Aurora Public Library, York Region Safety Village, Nokiidaa Trail Association, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Poverty Action for Change Coalition, Aurora July 1 parade celebrations and the Aurora Santa Claus Parade.

"I've had my hands in a little bit of everything," she told the Newmarket Era in a 2011 interview. "I just love getting involved and being a part of something."

“The world is a better place because Betty was here,” said Terry Mouland, officiant. Betty Marie Pedersen (Dalton) was born April 30, 1938, died on Jan. 26, and was laid to rest on Feb. 8.