Obituary of Florence Mary Norgate
Florence Mary Norgate
(nee Cooper)
December 8,1912 - March 13, 2021
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. Florie passed away at home in her 109th year.
Gardener, Bridge player, Knitter, Cross Stitcher, Pastry Maker, Blackjack Player, Piano Player, Tennis Player, Skier, Cottager, Home Decorator, Sewer of Fashions, Spider Solitaire Player, Executive Secretary, Date Square Maker, Dog Sitter, Babysitter—Florie lived her 108 years to the the fullest.
Born in Toronto to Thomas and Florence Cooper, she was predeceased by her husband William Wentworth Norgate and her daughter Patricia Joan. Florie leaves behind her son William Norgate (Kerry), son in law David Holloway, grandchildren Greg Holloway (Melanie), Matt Holloway (Lisa), Andrew Norgate, Cam Norgate (Kirsten), and great- grandchildren Meghan, Aiden, Mia, and Gemma. Florie will also be lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews and their families.
She will be best remembered as an intelligent, humorous, loving, patient woman of incredible strength and courage.
Florie was born on Woodbine Ave.the 4th of 7 children on Dec.8 1912. After attending secretarial school she began a career as administrative assistant. She and Bill were married in 1938 and after taking 14 years off to be at home with Pat and Bill she resumed working, ending as private secretary to the president of a large trucking company.
After retirement, she and Bill spent more time at their cottage on Deep Bay near Parry Sound where they hosted family and friends for many years.
After Billʼs sudden death in 1987 Florie remained independent and in her own home. She drove until she was close to 100 making her way to Lindsay to visit Pat and David. At 100 she went on the roof to clean the eaves troughs....althoʼ with some trepidation.
Family and friends were given flowers and produce from her garden.....even after she fell breaking her hip in July 2019 while weeding the rockery. Her rhubarb patch provided for the Rhubard Apple relish that we enjoyed year round.
For a number of years Florie took the “free” bus to Rama where she played for the afternoon and at least broke even at the Blackjack table. On one occasion the family booked an overnight stay at Rama when Florie bunked in with Bill and Kerry. When they woke up she wasnʼt in the room. They found her already settled at a 5 dollar table for Blackjack. They brought her coffee while she continued to play. She was equally passionate about bridge. At most family gatherings there would be a card table set up for bridge and all were invited to learn and play.
But her prowess really showed at the duplicate bridge level. And she had many prizes and awards to show for it. Most recently she played in a very competitive game at the Japanese Cultural Centre with her dear friend Ruth Samson. They would finish in the top 3 very consistently. Gratitude to Gord and Ruth Mori, directors of the game, who appreciated and encouraged Florie with great respect. After her hip surgery, Ruth and Barb Whylie moved the game to Florieʼs house until Covid restrictions interfered.
Beside Florieʼs favourite chair where all the cross-stitching and knitting took place was a list of names and phone numbers. After Bill and Kerry came Chester Tulk- a neighbour and friend for many years. Chester was always available to help with outside chores and shopping trips to No Frills. After a fishing trip he would often bring her pickerel and she would return the favour with muffins or date squares. In recent months, once family moved in, they could count on him 24/7 for whatever help was needed.
Next on the list was David, her son in law who is known for his ability to build or fix almost anything! Whenever he would visit ,Florie would have a list of jobs or repairs that he would happily do for her. Nothing was too much trouble.
Niece Holly Tutchener and her husband Gary ,were her gardening partners,when in the spring they would go to nurseries together and enjoy the fun of designing a new bed or trying a new plant. Florie always looked forward to their visits and the drinks and treats they would bring. Other doting nieces and nephews included Pam and Jim Neilly, Rick Cooper and Petra Asfaw, Doug Cooper and Karen, Phillip Cooper and Celia and Lee Steels, Sheila Cooper and Dave, Ray Norgate, Dianne Peet, Allan Norgate, Jacqueline Speare, Sheila Norgate, Carol Boothroyd, Jeff Norgate, and Leslie Norgate.
Ruth was next on the list and was the person Florie loved to chat with whether it be about bridge, gardening, politics or life in general. She missed Ruth and the girls so much when Covid shut down their game. Last on the list was Dr McGarragle who was Florieʼs longtime GP who has visited her at home for the past few years. When he came to give her the flu shot last fall he stood on the porch while she, using her walker, stuck her left arm out the door!
He and his wife always made a fuss when Florie made another milestone birthday. She looked forward to his visits when they would always have time for a chat. Since returning home from Bridgepoint in September of 2019 Florie enjoyed a weekly visit from Nadia with Spectrum Health Care. She was very fond of Nadia and was encouraged always by Nadia who was able to visit twice a day during her final weeks. Thank you so much Nadia!
The morning after Florie passed, Andrew Florieʼs grandson constructed a memorial for her at the house and wrote a letter to her from all the family:
Dear Florence,
We are all now beginning to mourn your recent passing, but we are thankful that it was relativity quick and painless. You lived a very long life! Congratulations on everything experienced, learned and accomplished here. You raised two amazing children and you were cherished by many who knew you. You created a nice modest home, an impressive garden and welcomed many guests over the years. You knitted and gave away many nice and thoughtful creative gifts. You were a source of guidance and support. We will all miss your presence here, but we are happy now to release you to God, heaven, and the ancestors. Take these lessons and experiences and go forth into the next adventure! With love and gratitude, Your family.
Florie has been cremated. Service and interment to take place at Pine Hills Cemetery on a date to be determined. Although Florie donated to many charities.... the family asks, if you wish, that you perform an act of kindness to reflect the love and generosity that Florie did her entire life.
We invite you to share your memories, photos and sentiments of her life here at her memorial web page.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
Life Celebrations. Done Differently.
