Betty was always willing to help people no matter what

THE community in Rowlagh are saddened by the passing of Betty Stimpson, an inspiring lady whose selfless manner and kind heart touched many people in her life.

Elizabeth, (Betty) passed away suddenly at St James’ Hospital on October 8 and will be sadly missed by her loving husband Paddy, sons Gary and David, daughter Tracy and all her grandchildren.

A machinist by trade, Betty worked for Carpet Land in Clondalkin Village, and always lent a helping hand to anyone who needed it in the community.

“I think she sewed for everybody in Clondalkin at some stage,” Betty’s daughter Tracy told The Echo.

“She was always willing to help people no matter what – she made debs dresses, communion dresses and she was always taking up people’s jeans and skirts. If she wasn’t doing small jobs, she was making their curtains.”

Involved in the Ladies Club in Rowlagh for several years, Betty kept active, participating in several groups such as the church’s gospel choir, salsa dancing and fit dancing as well as being an avid marathon runner, having run over 20 marathons in her life.

Despite her healthy and active lifestyle, back in 2017 Betty spoke to The Echo following a check-up at a mobile health clinic where she discovered she had extremely high blood pressure and wanted to raise awareness for people to go get themselves checked.

It was this high blood pressure that ultimately was a contributing factor that led to Betty having a brain haemorrhage, resulting in her tragic death.

Betty’s caring nature towards family and her friends was undeniable, as she cared for her brother Fred who was unwell and passed away in October 2020.

“She did absolutely everything for him until the very end. He got very sick, and he passed away when he was 84 last year. She was looking after my nephew in the house and then going over to Fred in the nursing home.”

According to Tracy, Betty thought the world of her friends, who she described as “her next family” and would go on countless trips around the world, including Lourdes, Medjugorje and Israel.

“She went to the Holy land in Israel four years ago and got her second tattoo on her wrist over there,” said Tracy. “She was 65 when she decided to get her first one– she was a real lady and very elegant and off she popped down to Clondalkin Village and the tattooist said that she was the oldest person he had tattooed.

“She was just such an inspiring person,” said Tracy. “She didn’t have the best childhood and she just made do with everything that she had.

“If there was ever somebody that didn’t have somewhere to go for Christmas dinner or something, she would be there for them and letting them know there was a place at our table.”

Even after her passing, Betty has continued her giving and selfless nature as she was an organ doner and has gone on to save several lives, including a woman in London who received her liver recently.

“She is the gift that just keeps giving,” added Tracy.