Elizabeth D. Clutchey
Elizabeth “Beth” Dawson Clutchey (née Breen)
July 23, 1935 – October 15, 2025
Elizabeth “Beth” Clutchey (née Breen), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher and friend, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, in Waterloo, Ontario, surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old.
Born in Cochrane, Ontario, Beth moved with her family to Timmins at a young age after her father passed, where she spent her formative years. The daughter of the late William John Breen and Nora Evelyn (White) Major, and raised by her devoted stepfather, George Isador Major, Beth grew up as the eldest daughter among a lively and loving group of siblings – George Breen, Wilhelmina ‘Winkie’’ Breen, Donald Major, John Major, Nora Major, Patricia Major, and Patrick Major. From her earliest years, she carried a natural instinct to nurture, lead, and care for those around her – qualities that would define her throughout her life.
Beth graduated from Timmins High and Vocational School before accepting a job and moving to Toronto. From there, Beth continued her schooling and graduated with Honours in Geography from the University of Guelph, beginning a lifelong love of learning and teaching. She shared her passion for discovery as a geography teacher at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI), where she inspired generations of students to see the world with curiosity and compassion. Alongside her husband, David, and their children in tow, she also spent several years teaching in Trinidad and Tobago under the auspices of the Canadian International Development Agency – a period that deeply shaped both of their lives and broadened their shared worldview. In addition, in 1968 Beth helped found the Guelph Marlins Swim Club, which is still a successful club producing world-class swimming champions.
Beth and David were married in Timmins, Ontario, on August 20, 1955, and celebrated 70 years of marriage built on unwavering devotion and partnership. Together, they raised two children – Davey Clutchey and Dana (Larry) Fatt – and later found immeasurable joy in their grandchildren Marissa (Justin) Gilbert, Sara (Mitchell) Ridgeway, Craig (Anne-Marie) Fatt, and Jessica Clutchey, as well as great-grandchildren Brock, Savannah, Clara, and Adaline Ridgeway, and Ridge and Parker Fatt. To them, she was lovingly known as “Nanny” – the heart of their family, the source of countless adventures, laughter, lessons and love. She was also a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews whose lives she touched profoundly.
Beth’s sense of adventure was boundless. Her love for geography extended far beyond the classroom, inspiring her to take her students, and her family, across the globe. Together with David, she founded Kortright Travel in Guelph, turning their shared passion for exploration into a successful business and a lifelong pursuit. The two traveled to nearly every country of the globe – Beth delighted in being a citizen of the world – from hiking Machu Picchu to the Great Wall of China. Beth and David explored every inch and never met a stranger.
In retirement, Beth and David embraced the snowbird life, spending their winters in Naples, Florida, where Beth could often be found golfing, reading on their lanai, or soaking in the sunshine. Summers were reserved for their beloved cottage in Belwood – a place of laughter, sailing, and cherished family memories. It was there that Beth and David taught their grandchildren to love the outdoors, to seek adventure, and to savor the simple joys of life at the lake.
Beth’s legacy is one of grace, fierce independence, generosity, and quiet strength. She had a gift for making every person she met feel seen and valued – never judged, always encouraged. Her intellect was sharp, her wit unmatched, and her heart endlessly kind. To hold her hand was to feel at peace. To be in her presence was to feel inspired to be your best self. She lived her life fully and selflessly, leaving a mark on all who knew her.
She is survived by her devoted husband, David, who faithfully cared for her in her later years with tenderness and unwavering love. Even as dementia changed much around her, she never forgot David – the love of her life. She is also survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends whose lives she enriched beyond measure.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, as well as several of her siblings. We take comfort knowing she is reunited with them, welcomed home into everlasting peace.
A private burial was held on Monday, October 20, 2025, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph, Ontario. The family will host a Celebration of Life in the spring, where friends and loved ones will be invited to share memories and honor Beth’s remarkable life and enduring legacy.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at University Gates in Waterloo for the compassionate care and kindness they showed Beth over the past several years. Their dedication allowed her to live with dignity and independence, even as she journeyed through the stages of dementia. A heartfelt thank you is also extended to the team at Grand River Hospital in Waterloo, whose gentle professionalism and respect ensured that Beth’s final days were peaceful and dignified.
Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
A tree will be planted in memory of Elizabeth D. Clutchey in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.