Norma Galvin
1922 - 2015
It is with sorrow, but a host of wonderful memories, that we mark the passing of our dear mother, Norma Galvin in Taber on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. We celebrate the extraordinary ninety-two year journey in the life of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and matriarch.
Norma is survived by her five children Moyra (Richard) Martin of Calgary, Wanda Lloyd of Calgary, Patrick Galvin of Lethbridge, Michael Galvin of Taber, Kerri Rae (Owen) Galvin-Smyth of Lethbridge; her adored grandchildren Aidan, Aaron, Gregory and Jeffrey and her great grandchildren Noah, Ethan, Addison and Ryan. She also leaves to mourn her cherished brother Darrell (Carol) Trenholm and their family, Kim (Doug), Cathie, Diane and Dale. As well, she sadly leaves behind her loving niece Eileen McIntyre, her Aussie daughter Carole Smith, her beloved Sue Nash and her loyal friend and caregiver, Shelley Ogilvie.
She was predeceased by Robert, her husband of fifty-seven years and her grandsons, Robert Martin and Trevor Martin.
Norma was born in Orion, Alberta on December 21, 1922. She went to high school in Medicine Hat, attended Normal School in Calgary and went on to teach in a number of one room schools in Southern Alberta. She met her husband Robert Galvin in Manyberries where he was the principal and she, the teacher, in a two-room school. They were married on September 2, 1944. They moved to Taber in 1962 and loved sharing their home with family and friends. Norma was a woman of deep faith, a long-term Catholic Women’s League member and an active, committed participant in St. Augustine’s parish. Everyone will remember her for her welcoming home where she lived until she was ninety-one years old, her wonderful conversations over a cup of tea and homemade goodies, her wisdom, her integrity in all things, her sense of humor, her delicious homecooking and baking, her love of family get-togethers and her enthusiasm for a game of cards. Norma had the true gift of motherhood. She loved her children unconditionally, taught them gently, gave unceasingly and forgave readily. Norma was a teacher, a writer, an avid reader, a collector of wise sayings, a sharp conversationalist and a determined puzzle solver. She will be dearly loved and deeply missed forever by her family and friends.
“Say not in grief she is no more but live in thankfulness that she was.”
Relatives and friends were invited to Prayers at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 7:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. A private burial service followed at the Taber Memorial Garden.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in Norma’s name may be made directly to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Society of Calgary, Suite 178, 132 – 250 Shawville Boulevard SE, Calgary, Alberta T2Y 2Z7.