In Loving Memory of Elizabeth Louisa Harrison
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BETTY HARRISON is shown (above) in a photo printed in The Vancouver Sun in March 1959 in honour of St. Patrick's Day and another (below) more recent one.
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IN MEMORY OF Elizabeth Louisa Harrison. Betty was born on February 17, 1932 in London, England. She loved performing in the theatre and was a founding member of the Emerald Players Theatre Group in Vancouver who put on many a hit play during the Sixties and Seventies.
Betty was a dynamic, beautiful woman with a ready laugh and a playful spirit. “Boop” loved to sing and was the life of many a party. She got her start in London playing Vaudeville and where she studied theatre and toured around performing at local clubs. She also started her own dancing school.
She left London for a new life in Canada in 1956, and along with a few other Irish newcomers founded the very successful Emerald Players Theatre Group.
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THE EMERALD PLAYERS production of Home is the Hero with (clockwise L-R) Brenda Warren, Tom Byrne, Sally Butler, Babs McConville, Betty Harrison and Margaret Forbes. This play was produced in February 1962 and was the first play staged in the old Arts Club
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The Emerald Players was the hub of the Irish community during that time and their talent, humor, and friendships connected and supported Vancouver's early Irish immigrants. It was through the group that Betty met her current husband Brian, who came from Waterford. They married and shared over 43 years of love and laughter.
Betty left this world on May 11, 2005, surrounded by all the love she created. She will be sorely missed by her loving husband Brian and her five daughters and sons_in_law; Christine (Ken); Carmel (Mark); Kim (Doug); Brenda (Greg); and Tracy (Dave). She leaves behind nine grandchildren, two great_grandchildren and sister Chris (Ray) of Seattle.
Her passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of those who loved her. Her legacy of a joyful spirit will live on. We feel her with us still and we know we will meet again. Till then...
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