Obituary of Elizabeth Woodman

Woodman, formerly Mercer (nee Ilsley), Elizabeth “Betty”- 94 of Wolfville, passed away, Thursday November 13, 2014 at the Wolfville Nursing Home. She was born in Wolfville on Valentine's Day, 1920 to Philip and Vesta (Pick) Ilsley. Her sister, Dorothy Tarr, predeceased her. Betty graduated from Acadia with a BSc in Home Economics in 1940 and completed her dietetic internship in Hackensack, New Jersey. She married Clarence Mercer in 1941, and they spent the war years in St. John's, Newfoundland where Clarence was a Lieutenant Commander in the Canadian Navy. Betty moved to Summerside, Prince Edward Island in 1946 where Clarence became the Superintendent of Schools. Upon retirement, they moved to Wolfville where Betty became an active member of the Wolfville Baptist Church. Clarence died in 1979. Betty's interest in music became apparent at a young age. She was noted for her beautiful contralto voice and sang in many university recitals and choral concerts. During the war, she was a popular performer in Newfoundland. In Summerside , she was a member of the Baptist Church Choir and directed the junior choir. She was also active in the Music Festival Association. When she moved back to Wolfville, she sang with the Baptist Choir and the university chorus. Betty enjoyed travel both near and far. She particularly loved visiting her three grandchildren in the Yukon. In 1985, Betty married Harold (Woody) Woodman, and appreciated exploring the Annapolis Valley with this newspaper man who seemed to know everyone who lived there. Betty also enjoyed student recitals, home economics dinners, and auditing courses at Acadia University. She moved to the Wolfville Nursing Home in 2000 where she was faithfully visited by Woody until his death in 2005. Betty is survived by her children, David Mercer of Halifax and Carol McCauley (James Seipp), also of Halifax, and her three grandchildren, Tara McCauley (John Ewing) of Dawson City, Yukon; Kevin McCauley (Amber Pan) of Vancouver, BC, and Craig McCauley (Karen Lange) of Edmonton, AB. Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Serenity Lindsay Annapolis Valley Funeral Home, Wolfville Chapel (902-542-4656). A memorial service will be held at the Wolfville Baptist Church on Friday, November 21 at 2 p.m. A private family interment will follow in Willow Bank Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Acadia School of Music or a charity of choice.