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Genevieve Marsh Obituary
The world became less bright on December 14, 2024, as Genevieve Norma Marsh passed away, with her loving husband Louis (Lou) Marsh and adoring granddaughters Brittany and Nicole Poirier at her bedside.
Norma was born in Alder Point on June 8, 1941, the eighth child of 21 born to George and Genevieve (Devoe) Walker. She married Wilfred Poirier in June 1963 and settled in Little Pond. Together they had four sons: George (Karen Satok), Darren, Stephen (Viktoria Papusha) and Kenny (Jung Eun Lee). After her journey with Wilfred ended, she found love with Lou. They married in October 1988, spending 36 years together as best friends and soulmates. With Lou came a collection of stepchildren and their partners to welcome into her orbit: John (Brenda MacKinnon), Ken (Leslie), Alex (Odette Bilodeau), Russell (Ann Digero), Tom (Peggy Gordon) and Janie (Paul Vickers).
She spent four decades of her life as a teacher educating young Cape Breton minds, with the last half of her career spent in special education. Retirement did not slow her down, with her time spent checking in with loved ones, shopping (so much shopping), playing bingo, taking sewing classes, travelling, and just generally living her best life. When she did slow down, she could be found relaxing at the trailer, watching one of her shows, curled up with a book or having long chats on the telephone. At all times when in repose, a cup of Earl Grey tea (with lots of milk) and a plate of sweets were never far out of reach.
But those are (mostly) just the facts and figures of biography: they cannot come close to telling us who a person was. So, who was Norma Marsh? When she entered a room, she made sure that you knew she was there. She drew people in with her giving nature and genuine interest in, well, everybody. She really did love people, especially children: hearing their stories and sharing her own. She seemed to know everyone, so her arrival at an event was an exercise in hellos, hugs and quick catch-ups before she got to wherever she ended up. Once settled, she held court for the rest of the evening, a bright sun whose gravity pulled the rest of us toward her.
She was predeceased by her parents and ten of her siblings: Helene (and her husband Johnny MacLellan), Gilbert (and his wife Gloria), Anne (and her husband Bob Larade), Vince, Leonard, Sheldon, James Adrian, Richard and two sisters who passed in infancy. She was also predeceased by her stepson Russell, her brothers-in-law Dale Vickers and Brad Graham, and her nephews Bruce and Steven Walker and Richard Vickers.
In addition to her husband, sons and stepchildren, Norma is survived by a vast circle of Walkers, Poiriers and Marshes, starting with her siblings Sister Joan, Betty Graham, Kenny (Heidi), Carol Vickers (Johnny MacNeil), Gordie (Barbara), Donnie (Sandy), Vicky Taylor (Jimmy), Gerard (Susan), Pius (Debbie) and Greg (Joanne), and her sisters-in-law Kay (married to Vince) and Jean (married to Leonard). She is also survived by her 24 grandchildren – Brittany Poirier (Daina Macneill), Nicole Poirier (Russell O’Brien), Catherine Poirier, Alexandra Poirier, Alexander Poirier, Erin Marsh (Taylor Burns), Don Marsh (Elizabeth), Jodi Stansky, David Togeretz (Andrea), Andrea Marsh (Chris), Shane Marsh (Brittany), Jordan Walker (Maria), Victoria Walker, Mackenzie Marsh, Sarah Marsh, Crystal Marsh, Danyka Valentine (Rob), Gabrielle Bilodeau-Marsh, Dominique Bilodeau-Marsh, Kristyn MacPherson (Eric Clark), TJ Marsh (Julia), Alana Penny, Burgess Penny and Jocelyn Vickers – as well as 32 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren and countless nieces, nephews, friends and admirers.
Thanks go out to those who helped to make her last days as comfortable as possible, especially Dr. Eugene Ignacio and the amazingly dedicated superheroes working on the Teresa Terrace unit of the Northside Community Guest Home, who showed Norma so much tenderness and sensitivity.
There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place.
Norma believed that death is for the living, and she showed no sign of fearing it. That was exactly how she lived her life, tackling each new challenge as if it was the opportunity of a lifetime. She would not want to see the end of her earthly journey marked by a gathering on a cold December day with everyone wrapped in dark or muted colours. A personality as enormous as Norma’s demands a showpiece celebration on a glorious summer day, surrounded by loved ones, everyone dressed to the nines and enjoying comforting food and, of course, a good stiff drink (and maybe a menthol cigarette, too, if the mood is right). So, to honour that spirit, family and friends will gather to celebrate her life on a date to be determined in the summer of 2025. Like every gathering held by the extended Walker clan, the door will be open to everyone who shows their face. Norma wouldn’t want it to be any other way.
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June 8 1941 December 14 2024 83 Years Old
Death notice for the town of: Sydney-Mines, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Genevieve Norma Marsh June 8 1941 December 14 2024 83 Years Old
obituaries notice Genevieve Norma Marsh June 8 1941 December 14 2024 83 Years Old
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Genevieve Norma Marsh June 8 1941 December 14 2024 83 Years Old and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
