Obituary of Norma Frances Hargreaves
Norma Frances Hargreaves (nee Genge) died peacefully in Kingston, Ontario on June 25, 2023, with her family at her side. Norma is survived by her daughters Vicki, Gayle (Peter Muir), and Lynn Hargreaves; cherished grandsons Jeremiah (Hannah Peck) and Eli Bach (Ginny Kozemczak), their father Michael Bach, Alexander (Li Xiaowei - Vivienne) and Peter Gordon Muir; great grandchildren Evan, Chloe and Marcus Muir; sister-in-law Judy Hargreaves (the late C. Ward Hargreaves); and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Norma’s beloved husband of 60 years, J.W. Douglas Hargreaves, predeceased her in 2016.
Born in Smiths Falls, Ontario on September 15, 1933, Norma grew up in Westport, Ontario, where her parents, Blanche (Bauder) and Percival Genge, ran the Genge General Store. Always at or near the top of her class at school, Norma loved to swim, skate, and ski. She studied classical piano through the Royal Ontario Conservatory of Music, but she was also known to set the room bouncing with a little boogie-woogie. Norma held her own as the only girl in a family of boys: brothers Bernard “Bud” (Patricia "Pat"), James “Jim” (Dorothy), and cousin Walter “Gus” Layfield (Sara "Sally" now Milne) (all predeceased, except Sara.)
Norma pursued a nursing career, graduating from the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) School of Nursing in 1955, which operated in conjunction with Queen’s University. Norma worked in neonatal intensive care at KGH and at Izaak Walter Killam Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the KGH Fraser Armstrong medical clinics. After retiring, Norma volunteered for many years with KGH Auxiliary and the Cancer Society.
While studying nursing, Norma met Doug Hargreaves, the love of her life. They married in 1956, then moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where they started their family and Doug served as an RCAF flight instructor. With grace and fortitude, Norma managed many relocations (and three daughters) during Doug’s career. They returned to Kingston in 1976, where Doug served as Head Football Coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels and Associate Professor in the School of Physical Education, with Norma as his solid rock, number one Gael’s football fan, and a “second Mom” to more than a few of Doug’s players.
Before retirement and after, as they sailed, skied and traveled in North America and Europe, Norma and Doug were anchors for their family. They made friends of all ages and walks of life. The cottage they built north of Kingston became a much-loved family gathering place. Norma and Doug spent early retirement winters skiing, building a community of friends in the Rocky Mountains.
Through all of this, Norma went out of her way to help others: whether through a kind word, a home-cooked meal for a lonely student, a place to stay - her compassion and thoughtfulness knew no bounds. Norma was the steadfast light and warm heart of her family. She was loved for her kind and generous nature, her inquisitive mind, and her devotion to family.
Cremation has taken place. A time of friendship and reception will be held at the Cove Inn on July 29th 2023 from 12- 2:30 pm. 2 Bedford St. Westport, Ont
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cancer Society, or charity of your choice.
