Obituary of Beverley Behnke
Beverley Anne Behnke
February 20, 1946 – December 16, 2024
Lyle, Shannon and Marla are saddened to announce the passing of a much loved wife and mother on Monday, December 16th, 2024 at the age of 78. Left to remember the good times are her husband of 55 yrs, Lyle, daughter Shannon Zunn (Calvin) of Toronto and daughter Marla Behnke of Prescott. Dear Gramma of Chloe and Alex Zunn. Predeceased by her parents Andrew Alexander Boyce and Evelyn Vera Boyce nee Fountain. Bev’s passing marks the end of a generation as she was predeceased by her brother Grant Boyce, brother Glenn Boyce, dear sister Sheila Veitch (Elwood, predeceased), and is survived by sisters-in-law Joanne Boyce and Betty Boyce. Having married into the large Behnke family she became a much loved aunt and sister-in-law to many.
Bev was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. Her father had a 160 acre farm in the Lockerby area which was later subdivided and developed with one of the streets, Beverley Drive, named after her. She attended McLeod Public School and Lockerby Composite High School and graduated from Marymount School of Nursing in 1967. Bev’s first nursing position was at the Toronto General Hospital, followed by 6 monthtemporary positions at the Burnaby General Hospital and Sudbury Memorial Hospital. She married Lyle Behnke in 1969 and the newlyweds relocated to Windsor where Bev worked at the Windsor Metropolitan Hospital. In 1970 Bev and Lyle travelled to Chalons En Champagne, France for 1 year where Bev worked part-time as a nurse at a newly opened hockey arena. Bev and Lyle returned to Ontario in 1971, settling in Prescott where they raised their two daughters. Bev nursed at the Brockville General Hospital, did community nursing with VON and retired in 2001 as an office nurse in the practice of Dr. Bill Audet.
She lived a happy, active retired life. She was always so appreciative of the many friendships that she developed through St.Paul’s United Church, bridge, tennis and the Ashbury Inn Bed & Breakfast, which she and Lyle operated in their home for 12 years. Bev’s life started to change when indications of dementia started to appear leading to assessment and official diagnosis in 2020. She sadly left the home she so loved in 2022 to take up residence at St.Lawrence Lodge in Brockville where she was so lovingly cared for by a most professional and skilled staff. We are so thankful for the staff of St.Lawrence Lodge, Oak Unit, The Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville and the Men’s Support Group/Hugh Gallagher.
Visitation at Barclay Funeral Home, 137 Pearl St East, Brockville on Sunday, December 22, 2024 from 12 noon followed by the Memorial Service at 2 pm. Interment at Blue Church Cemetery in the Spring.
Donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville would be greatly appreciated by the family.
