The family of Norma Ellis is saddened to announce her death which occurred on Thursday Jan 23, 2025, at the Foyer Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Bathurst. She was born Norma Gertrude Payne in Belmont, Massachusetts, to Gordon and Elizabeth (Good) Payne. She was an active child who enjoyed participating in school, church, and neighbourhood activities, coming to Canada when her parents returned in 1947. As a high school student, she worked part-time at W.J. Kent Company Limited and graduated from Bathurst High School in 1950 with her academic diploma and in 1951 when she obtained her special commercial diploma. She was subsequently employed at the Bathurst Power and Paper Company.
In 1955 she married Gordon Ellis and moved to Janeville where she resided for over forty years. She occupied those early years raising her family, renovating her home, creating an ever-expanding lawn from an alder swamp, vegetable gardening, establishing flowerbeds, and enjoying the outdoors in all seasons. She was an excellent cook, never shy to try new recipes, who managed to master the art and unpredictability of a wood stove oven until it was replaced by an electric model in later years. She was known for her lemon pies, fresh baked rolls, molasses cookies, and fish chowder. She loved the colours blue and red, was known to remove bows she found too “vain” from articles of clothing and yet she was somehow drawn to purchasing and shamelessly sporting vibrantly coloured canvas sneakers.
She was an active and faithful member of the United Church locally, regionally, and nationally. She was a lifetime member of the United Church Women, served as Secretary of Miramichi Presbytery for several years and was elected President of Maritime Conference United Church Women 1994 - 1996. She was also selected as a commissioner to the national United Church General Council. She loved her work in the church, making many lifelong friends along the way in the Maritimes and beyond.
In retirement, she and Gordon enjoyed travel in Canada and the United States and annually loved to attend Berwick Camp in the Annapolis Valley always returning home with a car filled with fresh fruit from local farm stands.
Following the death of her husband in 2015, she moved to Bay Chaleur Manor for several years until declining health necessitated a move to nursing care.
She is survived by her sons Hugh (Randy Breckenridge) and Peter (Dr. Shari Smith-Ellis), both of Bathurst, granddaughter Lauren Blinn (Stephane), and great-granddaughters Ellie and Lexi Blinn of Moncton, NB, Lauren’s mother Jane Crozier of Fredericton, her brother Gordon S.(Buzz) Payne Jr (late Agnes, late Margot) Hampton, NB, her sister Elizabeth (Zib) Craig (late Scott) Chestermere, AB and her sisters-in- law Marjorie Buchanan (late Robert) of Saint John, NB and Gail Payne (late Charles) of Sun City Center, FL. She is also survived by 6 nieces, Krista Blaikie, Gwen Boyer, Alana Grant, Marion Coady, Carol Parks, and Jean Schrekinger. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, brother Charles F. Payne, niece Merrill (Craig) Knowles and infant sons Darryl Albert and Harlan Mark.
Funeral services will be held at Central United Church in Clifton, NB on Friday, January 31 at 2 pm. A reception will follow the ceremony. There will be no visitation at the funeral home, but family will receive guests at the church beginning at 1 pm on the day of the funeral. The funeral service will be live-streamed and posted on the Central United Church Clifton Facebook page.
Those wishing to make donations in Norma’s memory may consider Central United Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.
The family are grateful to caregiver Della Watts, the residents and board of Bay Chaleur Manor, Lillian Drapeau and staff of South Comfort Villa, the management staff of the 3B unit of Residence Bel-Air, and the management and staff of Foyer Notre-Dame de Lourdes for the friendship, compassion, and care provided to Norma over the past several years. Despite declining health, she maintained her gentle soul, positive outlook, and quick wit.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com), Bathurst, NB.
