Norma Elizabeth Brockenshire
Passed on: July 19th, 2016
On July 19, 2016, Norma Elizabeth Bockenshire, daughter of the late Jimmy and Marie (Gatto) Kavanaugh, passed away peacefully at hospice with family by her side, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Norma is survived by John, her husband of more than 56 years; sons, David (Frances), St. Catharines, Ont., Brian (Ceris), London, Ont. and daughter, Nancy (Kate), Windsor, Ont., grandchildren, Evan, Dawson, Nathan, Rowan and Aidan; brothers, Jim (Mary), Ray (Carmie), New Waterford, N.S., Tom (Marlene), Niagara Falls, Ont.; sisters, Marie, San Pedro CA, Loveina (Frank) Kennedy, Guelph, Ont., Pauline (Frank) Ducharme, Emeryville Ont. and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Norma was predeceased by her sister, Inez; her brother, Robert (Bobby) and nephew, Quinn. Norma was proud of her Cape Breton roots and ‘the best family’ that she was born into.
The hearty laughs shared with family meant the world to her, as did the fresh lobster flown in to Ontario over the years, and recently brought right to her bedside! A special thank you to Pauline and Marie for your immeasurable help. Thank you also to Norma and John’s circle of friends. She shared many great stories over the years and was buoyed by the visits. Also a special thank you to her medical team, especially Dr. DeMarco, Dr. Kanjeekal and Dr. Freeman, and to Carol Derbyshire and the caring team at hospice. Norma was grateful for and very much at peace under your care. Her optimistic attitude and fighting spirit carried her through her first battle with cancer over 30 years ago, and inspired her to become a door-to-door canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, and then into helping to establish the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation. She co-chaired the founding organization known as Friends of the Centre, at the request of Dr. Hakam Abu Zahra, an oncologist at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre where she received treatment. The foundation has improved the journey of thousands of local cancer patients. She was a passionate fund raiser and served as President for many years. She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2008 from the University of Windsor for her contributions to the community and an Ontario Medical Association Centennial Award, in recognition of achievements in service to the health and welfare of the people of Ontario. Norma always felt blessed with her family, lifelong friends, and those that helped her along the way. Thank you to all who have contributed over the years. May her path be an inspiration to us all. Friends may visit at the Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 895 Ouellette Ave.,Windsor, ON. (519-254-3223) on Sunday, July 24, 2016, from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating Norma’s life, will be held on Monday, July 25th, 2016 from St John Vianney Church, 385 Dieppe St., at 11:00 a.m. Online condolences may be left at www.andersonfuneralhomewindsor.com Memorial tributes to Hospice of Windsor at http://www.thehospice.ca/donations, or the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation at http://windsorcancerfoundation.org/ would be appreciated by the family.
