Beth Irene Welch ~ Westport, NS

November 23, 1931- July 5, 2025. In loving memory of our Mother, Mama, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, Beth Irene Welch who passed away peacefully at home at the age of 93 with her loving family by her side in the early afternoon of July 5th.  Her home was the place she loved and where she raised her children also enjoying visits with her grandchildren. We love her dearly and will miss her always. Truly our hearts are broken.

She was the daughter of the late Leonard Alfred and Viola Evangeline (O'Connell) Garron, born at home in Westport on Brier Island November 23, 1931, weighing only 5lbs, her mother kept her warm in a shoebox on the oven door. Beth grew up in the small fishing community at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy with her six brothers and sisters and attended school at the old Westport Academy. This is where she met and later married her husband, Glen Welch; they stayed on Brier Island raising a family of four children and were married for 55 years.

Beth grew up during the Great Depression, this was often a time of significant hardship which gave her the strength and resilience she used throughout her life.  As a young girl, she started work traveling to Long Island, Yarmouth, and Saint John housekeeping and taking care of others. Beth always enjoyed working and was an Avon representative for many years. She was employed as a cook at the D&D in Westport for a number of years and then on to DB Kenney Fisheries in Westport till she retired. She was an active member in the community for years with the Westport Ladies Auxiliary, the Rebekahs, and was a member of the Church of Christ.

She had a great love of baking and was well renowned for her Egg Tarts (which were rumored to have been the best on the island), also her homemade chocolate fudge at Halloween, and delicious coconut cream pies! Her love of baking will live on through her granddaughter, Sophie and her great granddaughter, Lillie. She loved to share her baking with family and friends and was well known and appreciated in the community for this passion. Faithfully every Tuesday (Bingo night) she would bake a pie for the Westport Ferry crew who were always very thankful. ("Mama, they'll never forget your kindness.") Beth could be found picking berries in the summer months, wild strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries. Her family always enjoyed her homemade wild strawberry jam. Beth loved socializing and her other passion was BINGO! She truly enjoyed playing bingo and was never very happy to hear bingo night had been canceled. She also enjoyed Rummoli nights with friends and had fond memories of dances at "The Shack" in her younger years.

In later years although still young at heart she enjoyed rocking in her chair, chatting on the phone with old friends, knitting, reading, crossword puzzles, baking, prize bingo, scratch tickets ("Marl, bring me a bucket!") yard sales, apple picking in the fall with the family, social events, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, her soaps, Country Gospel music, drives on lighthouse road, and especially time spent with "Her Girls" LaReta and Marlene; all these things brought her much happiness and contentment. She was a caring, thoughtful, and kind person who loved life.

Beth (Mama, Mum) loved her children dearly and we loved her. She was the heart of our family, always putting the needs of her loved ones before her own even during her last days. She was affectionately known to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, ,as Grammie, Grang, Grammie Grang, each one brought her much joy and she adored them all. Her home was always warm and welcoming. Birthdays were made extra special with Grammie's birthday cakes, spaghetti and corn scallop that only she could make and they will forever bring happy memories. Christmas time was truly special and we will be forever thankful for those treasured times together. The aroma of her baking will forever linger in our memories.

Mama, we will miss your wave from the window of home, wishing us goodnight.

"We Will Always Carry You In Our Hearts"

She is survived by her children, Stephen Welch (Glenda) Digby; LaReta Titus (Clifton); David Welch (Adeline); Marlene Norwood (Dan); all of Westport, NS. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dennis, who was like a son (Nidia), Curtis, Travis, Jessica (Mike), Cody (Josie), Bethany (Chad), Noah, and Sophie, great grandchildren, Alex, Ben, Lillie, Maddie, Vaida, Dominic, Love, Freedom, Joy, and Baby Colt. Survivors also include her sister, Alva McDormand; brother Eldridge Garron (Lucinda); and great niece, Mendy Calder who affectionately called her Mama Beth; several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents, Beth was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Glen Welch; her brother, Alfred Garron; her sisters, Maureen Swift (Garron), Iris Rogers (Garron), and her brother George Garron.

A celebration of Beth's life will be held Sunday, July 20th, 2025 at 1pm at The Church of Christ, Westport.

The family would like to thank VON particularly the palliative care team for their kindness and wonderful care they gave to Beth. She cared for you all. The Westport Fire Department, First Responders, and the EHS Paramedics. Your care and kindness will always be remembered.

A special thank you to our Nurse Practitioner, Courtney, for your compassion, kindness, and care for Miss Beth, and your support and friendship for her daughters. We will be forever grateful. She cared dearly for you.

Memorial donations in memory of Beth may be made to The Westport Recreation Auxiliary, Multi Purpose Court Project, The Westport NS Volunteer Fire Department or VON Tri-County.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home. 398 Main St. toll free 800-825-3448. Online guest book may be viewed and signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com