Obituary of Norma McAlister

McALISTER, Norma Jean (nee Rispin) - It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Norma McAlister of Mt. Pleasant on September 12, 2009 with her family at her side after a courageous but short battle with cancer. Norma was born on January 23rd, 1924 the daughter of Thomas and Edna Grace Rispin. She was predeceased by brothers Percy (1917) and William Wesley (1951) and a sister Evelyn (Robillard) (1993). One sister Florence (Ed) Hutton lives in Guelph. She married Owen McAlister on October 21st, 1944 who died in 2003. 1994 marked their 50th wedding anniversary. She leaves four children, Paul (Janice) of Thunder Bay; Albert (Linda) of Mt. Pleasant; Bill (Cheryl) of Brantford; and Mary Jane (Charlie Batten) of Mitchell, as well as fifteen grand-children and seven great-grandchildren. Norma enjoyed the life as a farmer's wife with all its demands and rewards. She was an active member of the Mt. Pleasant United Church and enjoyed singing in the choir right up till the end. She loved bowling and welcomed the occasional game of crib with friends and family. She took pleasure in attending Mohawk College to learn how to make paper tole pictures although everyone took notes from her. Friends will be received at the Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre, 88 Brant Avenue, on Tuesday, September 15th from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Norma has requested that donations be made to the Mt. Pleasant United Church, the Canadian Cancer Society or the Diabetes Association. A tree will be planted in memory of Norma in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.