Tribute to Auntie Norma
Our dear Auntie Norma was beautiful inside & out. Her life & legacy will be with our family forever. Of the many, many stories/memories our family treasures, here are but a few…
The welcome mat was always out for family & friends at Auntie Norma’s home. Whether it be for an elegant gourmet dinner (prepared with meticulous skill & detail), or a 2 week stay in her 5-star guest room, or her entire home given up to a family member who needed a reprieve from university studies, Auntie Norma had an unparalleled generosity of spirit. Her late husband, our Uncle Norm (Gordon), was always by her side adding his musical talents, comedic prowess, mixology & love of family. Together, they made everyone feel extra-special & welcome.
While Auntie Norma & Uncle Norm were not blessed with children of their own, Auntie Norma had strong & loving relationships with her nieces: Lorinda (Allan) Belzberg, Pam (Michael) Jacoby, nephew: Greg (Gwen Tan) Sproule, great niece (Lauren Sproule) & great nephews (Micah & Adam Belzberg, Matthew Sproule, Josh, Ben & Fraser Jacoby). For Lorinda, Auntie Norma was the doting big sister she never had. For Greg, she was elegance personified. PJ will always remember her soft gentle hands & her warm hugs & kisses.
We remember Auntie Norma’s passion for travel; she had a long career in the travel industry with the company she & Uncle Norm founded. How she loved to don her white Stetson & greet their travel groups at the Calgary Airport. She was a proud Calgarian and an unwavering Flames & Stampeders fan. Auntie Norma also loved exploring some of the far corners of the globe; one of Maria’s favorite memories was their trip to Asia with (her brother/Maria’s husband) Ken.
Auntie Norma cherished every single Christmas with Ken & Maria, nieces, nephew, her parents Clara & Martina Sproule and great nephews/niece when they arrived. Auntie Norma loved the legendary Sproule/Gardiner family gatherings at Uncle Don’s farm or the Gardiner family Gull Lake cottage. When it came to family, she was all in.
Auntie Norma was the model of a loving & devoted daughter throughout her life. What was most memorable was how she cared for her mother, Clara Sproule, in the last decade of her life. She saw to it that her mother’s senior-living apartment was perfect. When the time came to move Grandma Sproule into a nursing home, she worked her same magic to ensure that her mother was comfortable & well-taken care of. She did that with fortitude & grace.
Auntie Norma had a wonderful & innate sense of style, fashion, interior design & entertaining. Always the perfect amount of flair & elegance in everything she had a hand in. From her home decor to her taste in fashion to her beautiful long red nails & matching lipstick, she knew how to make it all look fabulous & effortless throughout her life. We fondly recall when she turned 50 & asked if she wished she were younger, she said “Absolutely not. I just want to be a damn good 50!!”. And she was damn good at every age.
The family will be honoring & celebrating Auntie Norma’s life in the spring of 2023. For those who would like to join us, please contact Pam Jacoby at pjjacoby@shaw.ca.
Submitted with love,
Maria Sproule, Lorinda & Allan Belzberg, Greg & Gwen (Tan) Sproule, Pam & Mike Jacoby, Micah Belzberg, Adam & Gabrielle Belzberg, Matthew Sproule, Lauren Sproule, Josh Jacoby, Ben Jacoby & Fraser Jacoby
