McKENZIE, Norma Leith McKenzie

McKENZIE, Norma Leith  –

July 29, 1940 – November 7, 2023

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Norma McKenzie, a mother, grandmother, nurse, dedicated citizen and extremely religious do-gooder with a great big heart.

She was 83 years old.

Born in Springfield, Jamaica, Norma left for England in the early 1960s to study nursing at the feet of the Jesuits.

At age 27, she arrived in Canada and would work as a Registered Nurse in the operating room at the Scarborough General Hospital.

She often worked three shifts at the hospital to ensure her children never went to bed hungry.

Still, she found time to enjoy the last Stanley Cup-winning glory days of her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs; and the back-to-back champions Toronto Blue Jays, her new sporting love. Norma McKenzie was amazing. She volunteered perpetually, as if to help others was her ticket to paradise.

The neighbours knew of her. Youth sought out her advice. And she had a kind word and deed for anyone down on their luck or scraping the bottom of the barrel. She had a big heart and a large smile. And the people around her knew it. She cheered them up.

And when her son, Michael Thompson, campaigned for Toronto city council votes, many residents made it clear that she, not him, was the attraction. Norma formalized her community work when she served as president of the Mid-Scarborough Community Association. An independent woman and avid traveller, her favourite haunts were Paris and Amsterdam.

Still, there was no place like Scarborough, home for 56 of her 83 years.

Left to mourn her passing are children, Sandra, Michael, Colin, Mark, and Andrew; 13 grandchildren; 7 Great-Grandchildren; siblings; families and friends.

They request that, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto Funeral Services will take place Tuesday, November 14th, at Highland Funeral Home, Scarborough Chapel, 3280 Sheppard Avenue East. Family viewing from 9 to 10 a.m. Public Viewing: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Service: 11 a.m. to 12 noon. A Reception immediately follows the Service at the funeral home.

CanadianObituaries.com

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