Norma Christine Seymour

February 16, 1934 – December 4, 2024

Predeceased by her beloved husband Alan Micheal Seymour (1934 – 2014), and older sister June Kathleen Woodcock. Survived by daughter Ann Seymour and her husband Steve Goyeche; her son Mark, his wife Susan Zidaric, and their children Anthony and Eric; nieces and nephews Emma Hewitt-Seymour, Sarah Barfoot-Seymour, Dale Seymour, Paul Bowen Woodcock, Laura (Bowen) Woodcock (deceased).

EARLY LIFE & FAMILY Norma was born in Hastings, East Sussex, England to parents Kathleen Carey and Hugh (Bill) Campbell Bowen.

Her childhood was filled with a happy and closely bonded family. This was disrupted during World War II when she and her sister were sent away to Aston Bury Manor, north of London, to avoid coastal bombing. Norma’s post-war life in Hastings was occupied with parades, hop-picking, and brisk walks with her friends over local coastal Fairlight Glen. She became a master seamstress; a creative skill and ability that she enjoyed and employed through-out her life. Due to the war her education was interrupted. Later in life she completed her high school education at Toronto’s Adult Day School. Followed by a course in Egyptology at Humber College, which included a trip to Greece and Egypt.

MARRIAGE In 1952, at age 19, Norma met her partner for life Alan Seymour at a Valetine’s dance held on Hastings Pier. They wed on October 6, 1956 in Hastings. Barely three weeks later they departed via ship for Montreal, Canada. Norma endured non-stop seasickness the entire passage. Despite this, she made lifelong friends on that voyage.

Awaiting Norma’s and Alan’s arrival was employment in the roles of housekeeper and groundskeeper at a baron’s country estate. After a short stay at the Baron’s, they moved to Montreal where Norma worked for The Hudson’s Bay Company department store.

FAMILY

1n 1961 they began their family life with the birth of Ann and one year later Mark, residing in both St. Eustache and neighbouring Deux Montagnes, Quebec. In 1965 they moved permanently to Toronto, first to the Old Mill area, a few years later to Bloor Street West Village, and 17 years later to the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood.

Christmas Eves were spent at the Childs family home in the Beach with Linda, Jim, Laura and Micheal. Later, in the early 2000s, Norma would pack up her Christmas Tree Spode China, gifts, decorations and Christmas linens, Alan would polish the silverware, then drive to Niagara-on-the Lake to celebrate Christmas.

Weekends always included friends and family on an adventure or activity; including Alan and Norma’s 200-acre farm in Holland Centre, hikes to Rattlesnake Point on the Niagara Escarpment, and cross-country skiing in Muskoka. Always included was the beloved family dog Marmaduke.

Grandchildren Anthony and Eric were Norma’s joy. In their early years she was actively involved in their childhood care, always engaged and actively listening.

Norma and Alan were married for 58 wonderful years.

OCCUPATIONS

Norma and Alan operated their working lives in supportive and integral partnership in business and a wide variety of endeavours. Together, forged by the tasks of building a life in Canada together; without the support of family. Norma had a very strong work and financial ethic which she made a point of imparted on everybody who she could influence.

• For many years Norma assembled “telephone cards” for Alan’s company Adcom Research Ltd. This task was integral to the success of his Canada wide advertising, marketing and consumer research company.

• Norma baked; Plain Jane Turnover Nut Cake, Caramel Apple Crumble, Hermit Country Cookies, plus Marmalade Chicken and cheese straws. She parlayed this interest into a first food stand at Toronto’s Harbourfront Antique Market. Every Saturday morning at around 5AM, the Seymour family would prepare ham sandwiches, stir up lemonade, and Norma would make the best ever carrot cake to sell.

• In the 1980s Norma’s Aardvark Outdoor Furniture store in the Kingsway neighbourhood sold imported garden furniture from Italy and Germany.

• For 9 years she enjoyed working as the front person for MAC Cosmetics flagship store and hair salon in Toronto’s Cabbagetown.

• Norma hosted English as a Second Language students, many from Venezuela. A guestbook expresses words of gratitude; home shared together, family, tea, good conversation, patience, delicious cooking, support, kindness, friendship, safety, protection, hospitality, respect, generosity, and humour.

Here is one of the guestbook comments:

“The last seven months have been one of the best periods of my life, the both of you have contributed to make it memorable one. Thank you for the advices you gave me, the recommendations, and the warm environment felt at your home, that made me feel as if never left my family. Now in my heart you are also part of my family. I hope to see you again.” Love Domingo

ACTIVITES & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Norma sought out how to be of service and contribute to community. Volunteering throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s included Big Brothers – one example being a casino night fundraiser where Norma and Alan, and the whole household, made giant playing cards out of Styrofoam to hang inside Fort York Armoury, filling the cavernous space for the event.

Plus, special events such as Toronto’s annual Caravan Festival’s Canadian themed Yukon Pavilion, the Longboat Tenants Association, the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Community, New Canadian Citizenship ceremonies in the North St. Lawrence Market, and the Salamander Festival in Belfountain. Norma’s life was full and dynamic; always active and connecting to all. A joy for her were her friends with whom she went swimming, attended weekly cooking classes, and lunched at the local Hot House Restaurant. To keep her mind sharp, she played and taught Mahjong. In her 70s Norma had both knees replaced, once recovered she resumed her practice of walking briskly to activities.

Norma was talented in creating and making; always busy sewing, quilting, crafting wreathes, and numerous beaded necklaces. She made everything beautiful, and everything beautifully made. Norma loved to shop for fashion, and had a reputation for being elegant and stylish. Throughout her life she kept up to date and engaged with current affairs, national and international news.

She loved to garden, her Olde York Towers (2007 – 2022) apartment balcony was abundant with flowers. Norma will live on through her gardens In Belfountain, where she and Alan enjoyed weekends by the West Credit River in Caledon.

END OF LIFE

After a fall in her home and a subsequent recovery at St. Michaels Hospital, Norma moved into Long Term Care at Billings Court Manor in Burlington, Ontario.

On December 4, 2023, at age of 89 she passed away with medical help to ease her discomfort and her daughter by her side. She died of White Matter Brain Disease. While she had lost mobility, she did not reach end stages of dementia. To the end the core of her was present – her strength of character still intact, loveliness and wise disposition.

In life she was unflaggingly positive, her love unconditional, always accommodating, engaged in community, a creative talent, joyous, looked on the bright side of every situation, and always turned toward everyone with joy in her heart.

In memory of Norma, plant a flower - make life and the world beautiful.

Norma and Alan chose cremation. Their memorial service and interment together is Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Necropolis Cemetery, Cabbagetown, Toronto.