Elizabeth "Betty" Cornelia (Goeseels) Vriends

Surrounded by the love of her family, Elizabeth “Betty” Cornelia (Goeseels) Vriends, wife for 58 years of the late Arnold Vriends, passed peacefully on Thursday, February 19th, 2026, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Born in Holland on March 26th, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Jules and Dimph (Van Gurp) Goeseels. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Piet Goeseels (Antonia), Cor Maas (Kees), and Tos Rijvers (Jan). Betty was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She is survived by her children Peter Vriends (Charlotte), Joseph Vriends, Marilyn Larter (Kent), and Mike Vriends (Kim); grandchildren Jeremy Larter (Helen Manley), Jason Larter, Anthony Vriends (Natalie Murphy), Barb Dupéré (Jérémy), Angela Hegarty (Justin), Ryan Vriends (Haley), Lyndsay Vriends, Josh Vriends (Daniel MacLeod), and Jared Vriends; great grandchildren Orson, Cai, Hattie, Lucy, Isabelle, Béatrice, Bruno, Madisyn and Lily; brother-in-law Antoon Vriends (Mieke); sisters-in-law Cor Jansen and Reit Dirven; special niece Jean MacPherson; lifelong friend Dorothy Johnstone and many nieces and nephews.

As well as being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother (Mama), great-grandmother (Oma), sister, aunt and friend, Betty worked tirelessly on the family farm until she retired. She was also a W.I. and C.W.L. member during those working years and was later a volunteer at the QEH.  Betty also found time to knit, needle point, and crochet during this time. Later in life she enjoyed lawn bowling, alley bowling, doing puzzles, and playing cards.

Thank you to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the QEH and to her close friends and residents of Chesapeake on Sandstone.

Resting at Belvedere Funeral Home, with visitation on Tuesday, February 24th from 4-7pm. Her funeral service will be held from Belvedere Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, February 25th at 11am., followed by a reception in the reception centre.  The funeral will be live streamed and can be accessed at the following link: Remembering Betty. Should you require assistance in accessing the livestream, please call 1-877-895-2739 for support. Interment will take place in St. Eugene’s Cemetery in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her memory may be made to the QEH Foundation or Pat and the Elephant.