Obituary – Betty Yamkowy Sanders

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — It is with profound sadness that our beloved sister and aunt passed away peacefully on August 31st, 2025, surrounded by her dearest friends, her New Zealand family.

Betty was born and raised in Dawson Creek, British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. After completing high school, she worked with a phone company in Dawson Creek and Hay River, Northwest Territories to earn money to go travelling. It was on one of her overseas journeys that she met Fred Sanders of England. They were married in 1977 in Coventry, England and moved to New Zealand. After a few years there, they relocated to Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. The Canadian winters sent them back to New Zealand in 1981, where they settled in Lower Hutt, near Wellington.

Betty and Fred both had corporate jobs before opening their own shop, Cats Galore, in Petone. As a used bookstore offering feline collectibles and gifts, it was a wonderful refuge for them. Both were avid readers, cat lovers and world travellers, they also enjoyed playing cards, singing along to the oldies and keeping up on global current affairs. Betty loved visiting with Canadians who came to New Zealand. They closed the shop in 2017 prior to Fred passing in May 2018. In retirement, Betty enjoyed going to the movies and was known as the Coffee Queen of Lower Hutt by her friends. She volunteered at an elementary school helping students with their reading. Betty never missed family and friends’ special occasions, their airmail greeting card would arrive like clockwork.

Betty is preceded by parents Nancy and Steve Yamkowy, her husband Fred Sanders, her brother Bob Yamkowy, brother-in-law Dave Gentile and sister-in-law Kerry Yamkowy. She leaves behind her sister Shirley Gentile, brothers Don and Jim (Brenda), and sister-in-law Shirley Yamkowy, nieces Tammy (Tim) Wilson, Amanda Gentile and Kayleen Yamkowy, nephews Darren (Laura) Gentile, Shane (Twila) Yamkowy, Craig Yamkowy, Jason Yamkowy, Josh Yamkowy, Matt (Gina) Yamkowy and Dylan (Shelley) Yamkowy, and eight great nieces and nephews.

As Betty wished, she was cremated. A private celebration of life will take place at a future date in Canada.

We miss her terribly.