APRIL 5, 1935 – FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Our mother, born Marilyn Patricia Schefter, was an amazing woman. Loving, kind, thoughtful, and honest, she was an incredible role model--and she was ours! Mom was born in Guelph and then moved to Galt, residing in Cambridge for most of her life.
Her first husband, Ray Middleton, succumbed to leukaemia in 1972 at the age of 39, leaving her to raise their five children on her own. Five years later, their son David died in a car accident at the age of 18. Some may have given into the tragedy that had seemingly become their life, but not our mom! She was strong and courageous, had faith in God, with a multitude of support and love from our amazing family and her dear friends.
Mom was a legal secretary, working for several offices including Goad and Goad, Ben Unger, and Tait and McDonald. She worked tirelessly to provide for her family, and her children were never want of anything. In 1984, she married Ray Norris who has one son Bryan. They had celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in December of 2014, but shortly thereafter he passed away.
Our mom had dementia, and as the disease progressed the mother we had known began to slowly fade and we could do little to help her with her cognitive difficulties. All we could do was love and support her in every way possible, taking her to places that were familiar and doing things she loved to do. This included roaming through antique and thrift stores, visiting her family and friends, attending Blue Jays games, taking many walks, and listening to live jazz on Saturday afternoons. She loved music, dogs, travelling, dancing, gardening, hosting dinner parties, crafting and costume making, and most of all just spending time with her family and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, Herman and Gladys, sisters Verda and Mary (Allan), brothers Austin (Alice) and Charlie, niece Jackie, and sister-in-law Judy. She will be lovingly remembered and missed dearly by her younger brother Bill and all her nieces and nephews.
Forever remembering her with deep love and gratitude are her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Patti and Bill (Shane (Fanny), Kyle, Blair (Lisa)), Rick and Carolyn (Connie and Jay (Ben), Allan (Oliver)), Janet (Carter), Brad, and Bryan (Jessica (Elijah, Amiyah), Brendan, Shannon).
We miss our mother tremendously. The love we have for her is endless and will carry us through this, the saddest of times, just as she taught us it would. Rest in peace mom. The love that surrounded you on earth is equally abundant in heaven. Till we meet again, we will miss and love you always Mom xo.
Special thanks to the 4th floor staff at the Hilltop Manor in Cambridge, and The Ellington in Guelph who helped us care for her during the last years of her life.
Visitation will be held at Coutts Funeral Home, 96 St. Andrews Street, Cambridge on Thursday, February 17, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. There will be a Funeral Mass held at St. Gregory’s Church at 11am on Friday, February 18 with a reception to follow at Coutts Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada.
