Norma Allan, born Sept. 1, 1910, in Bow Island, AB, passed away at Trinity Lodge, Calgary Alberta, Friday, March 31, 2006 peacefully at the age of 95. Her husband Frank and sister Jean Joyce predeceased her.
Norma leaves her loving sons, Keith of Los Angeles, Kent of Calgary and Gary of Victoria. Their wives Melba, Gloria and Gary’s former wife, Dale. Norma’s grandchildren, Kent’s daughter, Julie Turner of Victoria, Gary’s children, Noel, Darryl and Lisa. Keith’s children, Mark, Tara, Brian, Mike, Sherri, Scott, Denise and Janine with 27 grandchildren. Norma leaves nieces, nephews and great grandchildren in Canada and the USA.
All of Norma’s great friends and ex-pupils will sadly miss her passing. Many saw her last at her 90th birthday celebration in Victoria in 2000.
Norma enriched everyone not only with her teaching and love of music but her keen interest and support of her many students of all ages over the years at her studio at 1873 Feltham Road in Victoria. She had a wonderful philosophical approach to life which she shared with us all. A strong defender of women’s rights and just the right amount of advice to those who asked and set you comfortably on your way a little wiser. She also, privately, recorded over 200 pieces on her own studio recording equipment which are treasures to us now.
Norma and her sister Jean, moved with her parents, David and Anne-Mae Halliday, from Cailey, Alberta to Victoria in 1924. She married Bruce Newlands at 19 and moved to Holywood, California, where Keith and Kent were born in 1934 and 1935, then moved under difficult circumstances back to Victoria in 1938 when she gave birth to Gary and started her piano teaching. Her husband Bruce joined the Canadian Army and went overseas. She was divorced after the war and eventually married Frank Allan in 1949 who gave Norma and her children devotion and much love. They made a new life and home in Gordon Head, Victoria, where Norma continued to develop her music teaching and eventually built a new home and studio on their property. She practiced her teaching there until she was in her 80’s when she retired and moved to Trinity Lodge, Calgary.
She had a great life and touched us all. We are all proud of her strength, wisdom and humanity.
After a cremation in Calgary, there will be a Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2006 in Victoria at McCall Bros. Floral Chapel, 1400 Vancouver St. Victoria B.C. Telephone: 250 385-4465.
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