Mary “Norma” Jacklin was born on the afternoon of June 27, 1927 at the family farm on the 8th of Brant. Her parents were Malcolm Alexander and Mary Elizabeth (Ashley) McCallum and she was the youngest of four children with older siblings, Kathleen, Dorothy and Duncan to keep her company.
Norma began school at S.S. #10 Malcolm in 1932 with three other classmates, her first introduction to Frank “Patrick” Jacklin. In 1940, she moved onto Hanover High School where she furthered her education. It was here that she was first introduced to music and an opportunity to join the school choir.
At this time, due to the war, there was a scarcity of teachers, so Norma’s mom (also a teacher) encouraged Norma to follow in her footsteps. However, Norma knew she did not want to teach but instead follow her sister Kathleen’s lead and become a Nurse. In fact, Norma’s mother held her back a year to try to convince her away from nursing but on September 24, 1945 Norma began her education at Victoria Hospital in London.
Throughout her time at school she often wrote to and was occasionally visited by Pat, who did not let the distance keep them apart. During her training in 1949 it was discovered that Norma had pleurisy with effusion, which resulted in her isolation and further time spent in the Sanatorium. Her biggest disappointment through this struggle was that she was not able to graduate with her classmates. Norma always considered herself a member of ’49 class even though it was the fall of 1950 before she graduated and became a registered nurse.
Her working career began at Hanover Memorial Hospital and soon after Pat proposed to her on December 24, 1951. On February 16, 1952 they tied the knot and began creating a life for themselves. Their family soon grew as Ann, Trish and Jane joined them. Over the years Norma spent some time at the Chesley Hospital before returning back to Hanover until her retirement in 1992.
In addition to her job and young family, Norma could often be found helping Pat in the fields, tending to her large vegetable garden or helping out as a 4-H leader. Her love of music was reflected with her involvement over the years in the Church Choir, Grey-Bruce Singers, as a member of Happy Twirlers (Square Dancing) or just singing some Big Band song while riding in the car. She also held many different positions within the church over the years and relished her involvement with Meals on Wheels.
As for hobbies, Norma had many. First and foremost she was a collector of bells, 134 to be exact. She also taught herself how to knit, enjoyed reading and writing, a game of Scrabble or a good game of cards, especially Chinese Poker. She also enjoyed travel, whether with the kids to Sauble Beach in their youth, eastern or western Canada with Pat or abroad with her sisters or other family members. Norma was always ready for an adventure!
The words gentle, caring, hardworking, organized and progressive are just a few of the words mentioned when talking about Norma. She was considered a forward thinker for her time, often questioning women’s lesser role in society and standing up for equal rights. This progressive thinking even affected her decorating, where a story was told that she once had difficulty buying paint at the Hardware Store as the paint colours (brown and green) should not be used to paint a wall to that extent! She spent most of her life looking after people, which included sharing a home with her in law’s for the first 27 years of her married life. She also spent many years helping Pat with his health issues. She loved him dearly and would do anything for him, including preparing and cooking his favourite meal – fish – even though Norma did not (and always made a different meal for herself).
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren had to be her greatest pride and joy! Whether it was handing out gifts at Christmas, having them for tea parties, sleepovers or dress up parties, Norma always enjoyed getting down to their level and playing with them. In fact, she kept separate folders of all the grandkids artwork that she had acquired over the years. Their move to Chesley in 1990 was perfect, right across from the High School, whereby visits from grandchildren were almost a daily occurrence. Grandma always had lots of food in the fridge and the best treats, and of course, she always enjoyed their company.
Unfortunately, in 2010 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This diagnosis led her back to her love of writing, whereby she wrote a short book about Pat and her life together, something that can be enjoyed by generations to come. Throughout her illness she continued to care for beloved Pat, until his death this past February. She was reunited again with him on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 when she passed away peacefully at Parkview Manor, Chesley in her 90th year.
Loving mother of Ann (Murray) Legge, Patricia “Trish” (Bob) Tibbo and Jane Lembke, all of the Chesley area. Norma will live on in the hearts and minds of her grandchildren, Lori (Chris), Scot (Jennifer), Chris (Jen), Alexa (Derek); Kristy (Chunk), Tanner (Teresa); Dereck (Menai), Kevin (Melissa), Cortney and Destinee along with her seventeen great-grandchildren. She will be sadly missed by her sisters-in-law Doreen Jacklin and Dorothy Reid. Norma was predeceased by her beloved husband Pat, granddaughter Brandi and siblings Kathleen McCallum, Dorothy (Harold) Magwood and Duncan (Lilian) McCallum.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Friday from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Norma’s life will be held at St. John’s United Church, Chesley on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 11 a.m. Doug Brown officiating. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society, Chesley Hospital Foundation or Hanover & District Hospital Foundation were appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
