Obituary of (Patricia) Jane Norton

Died Peacefully in Collingwood General and Marine Hospital July 21, 2017

Jane had an inquisitive, adventurous spirit.  At 16 she earned her pilot’s license, before she had her driver’s license.  She would take the streetcar as far as it would go, and then walk the rest of the way to the airport, Baker Field on the outskirts of Toronto for lessons.  At that time, to pass her flying exam she had to take the plane up to a certain altitude (alone), and deliberately stall the engine and go into a spin.  She then had to recover from the spin and land within a certain number of feet from the examiner before turning on the engine to taxi.

Although she did not keep her license, her interest in planes continued.  In her retirement, she became a member of the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation, participating in many fly-ins, and booking flights in the Tiger Moth.

Jane had a difficult childhood.  Her father died when she was 10.  To sustain the household, her mother took in boarders.  Her two older brothers also worked.  When she was old enough, she was eager to join the working world and help to contribute the family income. She was able to complete the last two years of her high school education in just 1 year at Thorton Private School.

Jane worked as a secretary or administrative assistant for most of her career. She started working in the typing pool for BA Oil and worked at various oil companies including Gulf Canada Products, Petro Canada and Suncor. Near the end of her career she was the secretary to the President of Gulf Oil until his retirement.

Jane met the love of her life, Roy, at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church during a church social.  Married in May 1959, Jane and Roy have enjoyed a wonderful life together, going on many trips as well as raising their only daughter Linda.

Family trips included BC, Newfoundland, winters in Venice Florida, and vocal music tours in Scandinavia and Russia.  Jane enjoyed music, especially singing in choirs.  She sang in the Mendelssohn Choir, the Canada Packers Chorus, and many church choirs.  Jane and Linda sang in choirs together at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Victoria Village United Church and Venice Presbyterian Church in Florida.  One of the highlights was signing with the Venice Presbyterian Church Choir as part of a mass choir performing during the Candlelight Processional at Disney’s Epcot Centre.

In her retirement, in addition to singing in the choir, and volunteering at the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation, she volunteered at the McMichael Art Gallery, and enjoyed working on their art sale, and even she hiked the length of the Ganaraska trail,

In August 1999, Jane, the innocent victim, was hit by an out of control vehicle, causing severe injuries.  She worked hard in rehab and learned to walk again.  Although she was determined to regain as much function as possible, this accident was the start of a long slow physical decline.  She was blessed by receiving wonderful care from her caregivers, especially those from St. Elizabeth Health Care, Right at Home Canada, her care coordinator at North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and in particular Sunset Manor.

Jane will be sadly missed by her loving husband Roy, daughter Linda, her many nieces, nephews, friends and caregivers.

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
– Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

                                    John Giliespie Magee, Jr.

Arrangements:

Visitation will be held at HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Ave in Toronto, on Tuesday, July 25 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
 

There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, July 26th at 11:00 a.m. at HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Ave in Toronto followed by a light lunch reception.  Interment will follow the reception at RESTHAVEN MEMORIAL GARDENS at 2700 Kingston Rd, Scarborough, ON M1M 1M5

Celebration of life service on Saturday July 29th at 11:00 am followed by a light lunch at WASAGA BEACH COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at 208 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach, ON, L9Z 2K1