Elizabeth (Betty) Lowe Neill (née Boag)

Dec. 4, 1933 – Feb. 17, 2022

Elizabeth Lowe Neill (née Boag) known as Betty, born in Dundee, Scotland, passed away peacefully in the presence of family in Nanaimo, B.C. at the Regional Hospital at the age of 88 due to breast cancer. Betty came to Canada at the age of 16 and lived mostly in Vancouver, Bowen Island and for the past 25 years was a grateful resident of Gabriola Island. She was a court reporter for many years and loved law and politics. She founded her own all-female court reporting firm with two other partners. A multi-faceted person she loved mountain climbing, tennis, squash, skiing, above all sailing and lately golf. She loved cooking, gardening, knitting and adored her pets. She was a vivacious person with a fierce wit and a lively sense of humour that was greeted with laughter and appreciation wherever she went.

On Gabriola she belonged to many groups. She was a member of the garden club, the book club, a Mah Jong group, the Knit-Wits, the girls in the hood and the golf club.

She was married twice – once to Michael O’Donnell (d.2003), (divorced 1960), and most happily to Barry Neill from 1979 until his death in 2006.

She is survived by her sister Marlowe Lindberg (Ron) her niece Shelly (Steve) with great-nephews Teddy and Andy, and niece Sandra, by her daughter Denise Goldbeck (Henry), her grandsons Will Goldbeck and Jacob Goldbeck, her son Michael O’Donnell (Susan), her granddaughter Justine Aquino (Aldrin), great grandsons Ayden and Caleb, and grandson Francis Cabang.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday March 26, 2022, at 1:00 pm at the Gabriola Golf and Country Club. For more information: contact denise@goldbeck.com