Obituary of Elizabeth Anne Crawley (nee Stanton)

Following a sudden and brief but brutal battle with lung cancer after quitting smoking 25+ years ago, we are heartbroken to announce the death of Elizabeth who passed away at home on 6 Feb 2025 peacefully and in very little pain.

Funeral service at 11am Mon, 10 Mar at Holy Redeemer Church, Kanata. Celebration of Life immediately following (to 230pm) in the Parish Hall. DRESS CODE: Red or jewel tones were Liz's fave. Access Live Stream of service and condolences via ColeFuneralServices.com As per Elizabeth’s wishes, cremation and private inurnment has taken place at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Predeceased by her beloved husband Michael Leslie Crawley (1991); also, mother Loretta Mae Mitchell (nee Garden, 2007); step-father Victor Paul Mitchell (1987); biological father Roy Clement Stanton (1993); brother Edward Roy Stanton (2015); mother-in-law Marjorie Freda Crawley (nee Greenaway, 2003); and brother-in-law Reginald Henry Crawley (1985). Also predeceased by friends-who-became-family: Lynne Raley (2015); Sally (2012) and, acting godfather to Kevin, Jim Lipscomb (2014); Kevin Hough (2024); godfather to Lisa, Colin Smith (2011); colleague, mentor and dear chum Dr. Helen K Mussallem (2012).

Elizabeth is survived by…
her two beloved children Lisa-Dawn Crawley (Brad Pizzati) and Kevin Crawley (Brittany Miller), all of Ottawa. Sisters: Shirley McCarthy nee Stanton (Peter) of Kanata; Donna Stanton (Kevin Shaughnessy) of MacLaren’s Landing, ON; Cynthia Harvey nee Mitchell (Alan) of Greenwood, NS; and, Pamela Roy nee Mitchell (Dennis) of L'ange Gardien, QC. Sisters-in-law: Ramona Crawley (nee Gwozdziewski Grant, of South Africa); Mary Stanton (nee Kavanaugh, of Ottawa/Mexico). Former sister-in-law Diane Stanton (nee Nelles) and former brother-in-law: Dalton LaRose, both of Ottawa. Nieces and nephews: Paul Crawley and Debra Crawley (both of South Africa); Laura McCarthy (Mel Dittburner) of Arnprior, ON; Vicki McCarthy of Kanata, ON; godson, Paul LaRose (Veronica Ferrante) of Ottawa; Robert Stanton (Marlowe Tucker) and William Stanton both of Ottawa; Jennifer Stanton (Joshua VanderDonk) of Blackburn Hamlet, ON; Shannon MacRitchie (Jason) and Brendan Harvey, all of Nova Scotia; Meghan Gallagher (Justin Wilson) of Kingston, ON; Jessica Roy of Hull, QC; and Melissa Roy (Jason Patenaude) of Kanata, ON. Former nephews-in-law Joe Romero of Stittsville, ON; Trevor Henderson (Constance Bay, ON); and Daren Morrissette (QC). Great-nieces and -nephews: Tasha Crawley of South Africa; Dylan Romero of Stittsville; Sydney Henderson (Tanner Giroux) of Westboro, ON; Brooke Henderson of Constance Bay, ON; Cashius and Thorson Ferrante-LaRose of Ottawa; Liam VanderDonk of Blackburn Hamlet, ON; William and Connor MacRitchie of Nova Scotia; Aidan, Caitlin and Rowan Wilson of Kingston, ON; Kacie and Ellie Patenaude of Kanata, ON. ALSO BY treasured friends: godmother to Kevin, Sheila Cooper (Ottawa); Hilde Keller (Stanger, AB); Bernie Keller (Whitecourt, AB); Frank Keller (Surrey, BC); Nancy Hebert (Orleans, ON); Brenda (Mike) Beauchamp (Orleans, ON); and, Karin Noel (Perth, ON). By half-uncles George (Janet) and Gerald Stanton (late Patsy) and half-aunt Marian (Garry Fisher), step-siblings, cousins, in-laws, and friends all over the world including but not limited to families Burke, Dinner, Klusener, Martin, Miller, Mitchell, McCoy, Morris, Palmer, Pizzati, Schultz, Snyman, Ward, Williams; Un-Boxing Day party people; Canadian Nurses Association colleagues; Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies; church lunch ladies in Sangudo and Stanger, Alberta neighbours. And, last but certainly not least, Betty is survived by LONG-time friends who have become beloved family: Patricia (nee Price) and Kenneth Mohr (Richmond, ON), Heather Mohr, Jordan Hough and Erika Hough and Crystal Mohr (all of Kanata, ON).

In case it wasn't clear: Betty gave "Good Friend". When she made connections, they stuck stronger than most - multiple for over half a century! She was strong-willed and opinionated but open-minded, quiet but quick-witted; enjoyed travelling the world with varied companions, reading, baking, shopping for bargains and she LOVED giving presents. Little did she know she herself was the greatest gift of all. To so many.

Therefore - In lieu of flowers, honorariums to BelongOttawa.ca or your choice of charity are what "Elizabetty" would have preferred.

Extended Notes From the Family:

Dress Code:

As this is intended to be a celebration of Elizabeth's life, we would like to ask attendees to honour her by wearing her favourite colour RED, any jewel tone or something else you feel GOOD wearing.

Ways to Participate from Afar:

1) Links to Live Stream via Holy Redeemer Church's Facebook and YouTube: https://holyredeemer.ca/livestream 

2) View the Live Stream on either website at your leisure until 25 Mar 2025. 

3) On Monday, March 10th participate in the above-mentioned Dress Code.

4) Leave a condolence and/or a stand-out memory of Elizabeth on this page.

5) Browse or play "Elizabetty's Celebration Of Life" playlist on Spotify: *** NEW ***

Elizabeth was not star-struck by any particular musician so this list is a collection of particular songs or artists that we know she liked, from special moments (ie, tunes she sang to us as babies, were performed by Lisa in school, performed at Betty & Mike's and Lisa & Brad's wedding), are friendship or family themed, represented particular times in her life, whose inclusion made us feel good or title made us laugh. We have chosen mostly upbeat songs to keep the feeling celebratory but there are a select few slower ballads included.

LINK: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ywaaYLL0ONlqnkpj7Iqr0?si=6e0ef0dc7d7c419c

It is now (perhaps not forever) a public playlist so you should be able to search for "Elizabetty's Celebration Of Life" if the link doesn't work.

At 4hrs, 29mins long, the list is intended to be played on Shuffle Mode (random) through the reception and over that afternoon.

In lieu of flowers*, much needed donations or honourariums aiding our less fortunate population and assisting our ailing health care system via any of the links on the Donations Tab (click left sidebar) or a charity of your choice are strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated.

** With love, we know y'all will do what you're gonna do no matter what we say but our intention is for there to be one arrangement from each child and their spouse, both similar to the one she chose from herself for Michael's funeral.

*** Our cats are incompatible with the flowers we would need to bring home.

**** Flower money could really make a difference elsewhere.

We Appreciate You

Massive thanks and appreciation to the following healthcare personnel who made even a tiny bit easier Elizabeth’s sudden illnesses and exit:

• Special thank you to Dr. Scott Laurie (Medical Oncology), Nurse Sylvie M (Oncology) and Dr. Robert MacRae (Radiation Oncology) for their compassion, humour, honesty and forthrightness.
• To the beautiful and brilliant Radiation Nurses Erin H and Katie D at the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Center who seemed to take extra special care.
• To Nurse Practitioner Julia Rivers and Nurse Chelsea T in the chemotherapy unit at the General - angels who saved us from a trip to the ER on one long, very difficult day near the end.
• To Personal Support Workers Passimassiwe A and Victoria A who provided home care with kindness and compassion (and everyone from Bayshore HealthCare, notably Jennalyn Dublack).
• To home care nurses Ian, Cindy, Daniel, Amanda et al from "Saint Eliz" including Jennifer Lowe.
• Thank you to Dr. M.A. Parbhakar (CareMedics Manotick) whose scheduled phone appointments of late come with impeccably odd but helpful timing, tender understanding and, most importantly, the appropriate prescriptions. (She will laugh at this, promise).
• To the numerous police and ambulance service personnel we encountered; I was unable to catch the names of most save the man, fittingly called Kevin, who arrived first on scene that morning. Also, Dr. Sara Merali.
• We would be remiss if we did not express our gratitude for 20yrs of excellent healthcare from our family's now retired GP, Dr. Deanna Colpitts.
• Finally, to the myriad overworked and underpaid health care professionals (and those adjacent) we encountered via ambulance, hospital, lab, telehealth, emergency department, chemo centre, radiation unit and pharmacy who are too numerous to list -- we promise, we noted you all. And we thank you. 

To besties Julie Cugalj and family of Gatineau, QC; Joe Lawrence and family and Gryffen Smith, all of Ottawa.

To Father Paul Nwaeze and Maureen Brannan at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.

To Cole Funeral Services at Pinecrest, specifically Chris Pasma, Stephanie Latourell and John Radmore.