UTICA – Elizabeth J. “Betty” (Ziegler) Crabbe, R.N., age 74, passed away peacefully, independently, and unexpectedly on Friday, March 15, 2019, one day prior to her 75th birthday. Betty was born on March 16, 1944, in the small town of Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada to the late Clifford and Thelma (nee MacDonald) Ziegler. Betty grew up on a 1,000-acre working farm, attended a one-room elementary school in Manor, High School in Carlyle, and in 1966, Betty graduated from the Regina General Hospital School of Nursing.
After working in Regina for two years, Betty and her close friend, June, a classmate from nursing school, decided to pack a bag and head to Hawaii! Betty and June found themselves in Honolulu, without jobs or a place to live. Within a week, they both had jobs working in a local hospital and living near Waikiki!
While living in Hawaii in 1969, Betty met her former husband, Patrick Crabbe, and ended up moving to Utica in 1971. Betty continued her nursing career at St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital, and soon became the Charge Nurse in the Trauma Unit. Betty remained the Charge Nurse for the next 40 years until her retirement in 2011.
She was passionate about her work and was a dedicated professional. She amassed a record of almost perfect attendance over those 40 years, never missing work except for taking maternity leave for the births of her three children. The number of lives Betty touched can never be truly calculated, but she left a lasting impression on her patients, co-workers and subordinates, alike.
Her compassion, kindness and professionalism were well-known throughout St. Luke’s. Betty was always ready to give a helping hand and enjoyed teaching the new nurses under her care. She was also known for her beautiful penmanship.
Long before medical charts and records were computerized, and doctors’ orders were written by hand, everyone knew who had taken care of a particular patient when they saw the hand-writing on the person’s chart! It was near-professional calligraphy! Betty is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Michele and Michael Mock, Karen and Vincent Turczyn, and Laura and Keith Baston.
She was Macka to her grandchildren, Joshua, and Jeremy Mock; Angeline, and Davina Turczyn; and Ada Baston; and three great-grandchildren, Eloise, Lucas, and Rowan. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, John and Susan Ziegler, of Moosejaw, Saskatchewan; a niece, a nephew, and cousins. She was preceded by her brother, Donald Ziegler.
Betty knew from an early age that she would devote her life to helping others, as evidenced by her nursing school yearbook quote: “Reverence for life demands from all, that they should sacrifice a portion of their own lives for others”. In keeping with Betty’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral services. She will be honored with a Spiritual Hawaiian Ceremony, as that was her happy place.
Those wishing to honor Betty may make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, 441 W Kirkpatrick St, Syracuse, NY 13204 or online at www. alz.org/centralnewyork. Rest in peace, Nurse Betty.
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