Elizabeth Shields (known as Betty) was born in Belfast Northern Ireland 29th May, 1937 to Robert and Annie Stewart. Betty and her sibling Mary (known as Molly) grew up on Shore Road Belfast. She went to Seaview Primary School and then Graymount Senior School followed by secretarial college.
Betty worked for the Department for Education for Northern Ireland based in Academy Street Belfast and then on to work for Stewart Blacker Quinn and Knox Solicitors near the Belfast City Hall.
Betty married Tom Shields also from Belfast on September 8th,1959 and they set up their first home in Carnvue Avenue Glengormley Co. Antrim. Karen, Betty’s daughter was born in May 1961 and son Mark in 1962.
Betty, Tom and family moved to Dublin in 1964, residing in Leopardstown Avenue, Foxrock and then moved to Bray, Co. Wicklow in 1972, where they had many happy years as part of the Christ Church parish and the wider Bray community. Betty and Tom named their home on Church Road – ‘Carnvue’ after the road name of their first home together. It was at Carnvue that Betty created her wonderful garden which brought her immense pleasure.
Betty loved being with her grandchildren Aaron and Niall (Karen’s sons) and Harry and Archie (Mark’s sons). She was also very close to her sister and family in the North of Ireland and enjoyed regular contact with her nieces Tracey and Wendy and their children.
Betty and Tom moved to England to be closer to Karen and Mark and set up in a new home at Hurstpierpoint in Sussex in May of 2019. It was great for Betty having close contact with her children and their families and especially during lock down due to Covid – 19.
Betty sadly died at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath West Sussex on September 27th 2020 from cancer.
Betty was a wonderful homemaker, youthful and fun in spirit, stylish to the end and will be much missed by her family.
Her funeral ceremony will take place on October 9th at St Andrew’s Church in Hove East Sussex. The service will be streamed from the Church and the link is available via https://bettyshields.muchloved.com/
Date of Death: Sunday 27th September 2020
