Monday, July 29, 2019

A Great Sendoff!

Norma got to celebrate what would have been her 77th birthday with a great sendoff! Her Celebration Of Life was held on our lawn Saturday afternoon with a gathering of many friends and political allies!

Our good friends Sharon (her main political ally) and Rick came a couple of days early to help me get things ready and Brooks and his friend CJ came on Friday. Brooks rented chairs, tables and a sound system which we set up on the front porch looking out over the lawn. Everything worked beautifully!

Our granddaughter Jayde emceed the whole affair with help from Sharon. Between them they read out about a dozen letters from politicians Norma has worked with and for over the years, These tributes included letters from the current Premier John Horgan, two former Premiers (Clark and Harcourt), the current Minister of The Environment George Heyman and a former Minister of Education Moe Sihota. Many other organizer friends also sent letters with many humerous and some serious stories of Norma. She was hugely respected among her peers. Our old friend and former Premier Dan Miller was also here and spoke a beautiful tribute to Norma.

Here are a few lines from the letter from our long time friend and former Premier of BC, Glen Clark;

"Norma Randle was a hero of mine.......... Inside the NDP there are a few Norma Randles. Men and women (mostly women) who do all the hard work - the unglamorous work of organizing and trench warfare. Because of Norma, people like me could get elected. And because of Norma, I got a chance to be part of a government that tried to make a difference."

I found these words particularity touching because Norma loved Glen Clark and there was nothing she was more proud of than the countless weeks, days and hours she spent getting him elected. He was her hero as well!

There was some doubt in my mind that I could pull it off without tears but I managed to get through my speech. After thanking everyone I recounted some of my stories about Norma including the one of how we met and of some of her other antics over the past 55 years we were together. Jayde did a fantastic job keeping everything on track and moving along and Brooks, after watching Jayde and I get through it decided to forget his pledge to not speak and gave a wonderful tribute to his mom.

It was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and the food prepared by Brooks and CJ was even better. My biggest mistake was in forgetting to give my camera to Sierrah to get some photos so if anyone has any photos, please send them to me.

Norma was so loved and respected and would be so pleased with her Celebration. It was a wonderful day and may help provide some closure for her friends and family. Her loss leaves a hole in our hearts that will be very hard to fill!

Here is a photo of our immediate family provided by our friend Les. It is LindaLee, Brooks, Jayde, Sierrah and myself.


And some photos taken by Richard











13 comments:

  1. How wonderful. I'm sure I'm not the only one that, but for the distance, would have loved to have been there.

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    1. You would have loved it Bill! All your kind of people!

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  2. A perfect day for the whole family! Hats off to you Croft.

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  3. What a wonderful tribute to Norma and to all of you as well.
    So glad all went well including those who could join you and
    the fact that the weather was good.

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  4. What an awesome sendoff and the speeches and memories shared, she was and amazing partner , wife, and person .

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  5. That is what makes life worth living, leaving a legacy. Having convictions, letting others know them, living them and sharing them. Norma did those things. I have so many memories of her and you of course. My life wouldn't be the same without her. I'm glad we knew her, shared good times, conversations, some minor differences and great hugs. As time passes, the heartache turns to good memories and life goes on. The pain is the feeling we have for loving someone so much. I'm glad I know that pain that will fade and become that good memory. Thanks for sharing so much with us.

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  6. There was only one Norma...never to be forgotten. Lovely tribute to a special lady!

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  7. So glad she got this sendoff!

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  8. Wonderful. Norma's celebration of life was a fitting tribute to a life well lived, well earned and well respected.

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  9. Thanks for sharing all this with those could not be there. Love to all of you.

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