SUTHERLAND’S RIVER – Elizabeth Dorothy “Betty” Cunningham, 83, Sutherland’s River, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2009 at home. Born in Chester on January 27, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Reuben and Celeste (Stevens) Heisler. She was a member of Sutherland’s River Presbyterian Church and the Atlantic Missionary Society. In earlier years she had been a sales manager with World Book Childcraft of Canada. She was a past president and member of the Pictou County Artists Association and a secretary for the Sutherland’s River and District Community Center. Betty was known for her reputation as an artist and was most content when painting and gardening. She was very proud of her heritage, especially her father and brother, Ben’s, reputation as boat builders in Chester. Her free spirit and joy of life were qualities she passed on to her children, whom she loved. Surviving are her daughter, Leigh Cunningham, Sutherland’s River; son, Michael Cunningham, Thorburn; grandchildren, Logan (Ben) Nanton, Timberlea; Holly and Lauren Cunningham, Lantz; great-granddaughter, Chloe Nanton; sister, Celeste Willman, Ottawa;sister-in-law, Marion Miller, Peabody, Mass.; numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Henry Cunningham; sisters, Meretha Heisler, Hazel Heisler, Nellie Corkum, Olive McNamara, Mary Levy, Anne Doolan, Zoa Varner, Hattie Demont and June Corkum; brothers, Benjamin, Joseph, Owen, Reuben and Fred. The family will receive visitors 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Thursday in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow from where funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday in the chapel with Rev. Jeff Lackie officiating. Interment will be in Murray’s Point Cemetery at a later date. Donations may be made in her memory to Sutherland’s River Presbyterian Church.