It is with great sadness the family announces the peaceful passing of beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Margaret Norris (née Jourdain), on Friday, December 8, 2017, at the Dryden Regional Health Centre, with family at her side.
Margaret is survived by Lynn, her husband of 61 years, daughter Lila (Frank) Duffy, sons Ray and Dan (Betty) Norris, grand-children Brenna Duffy, Aiden (Chris) Duffy, Nick (Teresa) Norris, Matt (Ruth) Norris, Brittany Norris, Orrin Cameron and Lennon (Jessica) Norris, 12 great-grandchildren and her brother, Robert. Margaret was pre-deceased by her parents, Paul and Mae Jourdain, sons Darrell and David Arthur, siblings Norman Allan, George Allen, Elroy Jourdain, Richard Jourdain, and Mary Bombay, and her granddaughter, Krysten Norris.
Margaret was born at Frog Creek, on Couchiching First Nation, on September 11, 1936. She and Lynn Norris were married following a 4-year courtship, on November 15, 1956. After Darrell and Lila were born in Fort Frances, Margaret and Lynn moved to Wabigoon, where they stayed and raised their 5 children. Margaret worked every spring at the tree nursery in Wabigoon. Margaret loved being with and keeping the children of the village busy, with spontaneous games of baseball and later, began 28 years of teaching the sport of curling, through the Wabigoon Public School, where she was employed as a teacher’s aide. In 1983, she earned her Ojibwe teaching degree at the Lakehead University, after which she continued working at the Wabigoon Public School as the Ojibwe Language teacher. Following this, Margaret taught Ojibwe at the Dryden District Hugh School for several years. Margaret was also a charter board member of the Patricia Child and Family Services, which was established as an alternative to the Children’s Aid Society.
Margaret and Lynn enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and eventually built their dream, lakeside home at Avery (Birch) Lake. Margaret was very well known for her love of baseball, and even the umpires would sometimes verify the score and the count by her. Margaret and Lynn loved the time they spent with their grandchildren and more recently, cherished time spent with their great-grandchildren. Margaret was a very kind, caring person, who was involved for many years with the Christmas hamper program in Wabigoon. After her children were grown, Margaret would spend Christmas and New Year’s eves at the Dryden Regional Health Centre, visiting whomever might happen to be in the hospital at this lonely time of the year. Her example will be sorely missed.
The family would like to thank Dr. Kehler, Dr. Wong, and the wonderful nursing staff at the Dryden Regional Health Centre for their comfort and care, and to Father Alan Campeau, for his ministry to her.
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