Frederica Elizabeth Thomas

1920 - 2013  (93 years)

• Name	Frederica Elizabeth Thomas
  Born	3 Feb 1920	Fort William (Thunder Bay) Thunder Bay District, Ontario
  Gender	Female
  Name	Frederica Elizabeth Fullard
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-191433
  Died	28 Feb 2013
  Buried	Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I191433	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Dr. Newton Oscar Thomas,   b. 29 Apr 1888, Port Elgin, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Oct 1929, Fort William (Thunder Bay) Thunder Bay District, Ontario  (Age 41 years)
  Mother	Mildred Irene Laschinger,   b. 21 Sep 1888, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 27 May 1947, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 58 years)
  Married	15 Jul 1919	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Family ID	F48502	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	MBE Clarence Haig "Chappie" Fullard,   b. 1916,   d. 1988  (Age 72 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F54460	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Frederica Elizabeth Fullard - ''Betty' (nee Thomas) 1920 - 2013 Peacefully on February 28, 2013 in her 93rd year. Beloved wife of the late Clarence (''Chappie'') Haig Fullard M.B.E. Predeceased by her sisters Margaret Thomas, Katherine Lapp, and Ann Reny. Left to cherish her memory are her brother Newton Thomas and sister Constance Klassen; children Valerie, Brian (Trudy) and Brent (Christina); grandchildren Vanessa, Melissa, Sacha, Stefanie, David, Taylor, Sara, Fraser, Carson, and Harris; and eight great-grandchildren. Betty was born in Fort William to parents Dr. Newton O. Thomas and Mildred Irene Laschinger and, later moving to New Hamburg, where she was the eldest of 5 sisters and 1 brother. After graduating from high school, she began work as a secretary at Cluett, Peabody & Co. Betty met her future husband Chappie, in 1939 while walking on Wasaga Beach with friends. During this time, Chappie was stationed at Camp Borden attending Officer's Training College. Marriage was delayed until after Chappie returned from War overseas in 1945, at which point he and Betty moved to Toronto to begin their family. One of Betty's lifetime goals was to become a teacher, and once her children entered high school she enrolled at Teachers College. Upon graduation, she began her teaching career in Etobicoke at Silvercreek Elementary School and later at Westway Public School. Another goal was to attend university; this she did at night school, graduating with a B.A. from the University of Toronto in 1974. Betty was devoted to her students and also became a tireless advocate for the rights of women teachers. Betty served on the Executive of the Federation of Women at Teachers' Associations of Ontario where she successfully championed the cause of overturning the highly discriminatory practice of women teachers losing seniority if they took maternity leave (seniority being the basis upon which pay and eligibility for promotion to Vice-Principals and Principals was determined). Betty continued to teach until she was 67, having being asked to stay past the mandatory retirement age of 65 because she was such an excellent teacher. Once retired after 21 years of teaching, Betty enjoyed the theatre, music, travelling with family and friends, spending time with grandchildren in Collingwood and Muskoka, and supporting many different causes including the Council of Canadians, Doctors without Boarders, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, LEAF (Women's Legal Action Fund), United Way, Humane Society of Toronto and the World Wildlife Fund. Betty leaves behind many wonderful memories for her family, friends, and former students who remember her generosity and loving, caring nature. A special thank-you to the wonderful staff at Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, who helped care for Betty in her final year. A funeral service will be held at Zion United Church, 215 Peel St., New Hamburg, on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 1: 00 p.m. followed by burial at Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg, Donations to a charity of your choice in Betty's memory would be appreciated. On-line condolences may be made through www.turnerporter.ca globeandmail.com: Frederica Elizabeth Fullard - ''Betty' (nee Thomas) 1920 - 2013Peacefully on February 28. (2017). V1.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017, from https://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/Deaths.20130302.93314899/BDAStory/BDA/deaths

  
  

• Event Map

  Buried - - Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth