Norman Joseph Loiselle

June 3, 1935 - September 1, 2024

In loving memory ~

Norm Loiselle of Ladysmith was surrounded by his family when he died peacefully on Sunday, September 1st, he had recently celebrated his 89th birthday.

June 3, 1935, Norm was born in St. Lambert, Quebec, to Laura & Henri Loiselle. He was the youngest of 11 children. In his youth, Norm enjoyed playing hockey in the school courtyard. When he was not in school or playing hockey, he worked odd jobs to help his widowed mother, who ran a boarding house.

In 1953, at 18, Norm joined the Canadian Airforce, where he was posted to RCAF Station Rockliffe outside Ottawa, Ontario. Here Norm met and fell in love with a beautiful, freckled face girl from Port Alberni, BC. Her name was Eleanor Richmond, and she would later become his beloved wife. The two married on August 11, 1956, in Port Alberni. Not long afterwards, Norm was stationed in Centralia, Ontario. During their time here, they welcomed their first three children into the world: a boy (Norman Jr.) and two girls (Carolyne and Denise).

1960, Norm was posted to Zweibrucken, Germany. While stationed there, Eleanor and Norm welcomed their fourth child and youngest son, James. The birth of their fourth child gave them a young family of four children under the age of five. During this time, Norm was sent to southern Italy, doing drills for the Air Force. In the fall of 1964, the family returned to Canada, this time with a posting for Norm in Cold Lake, Alberta. Life was busy with moonlighting jobs, coaching hockey, and having their final child, a girl named Rosemarie. After seven winters in northern Alberta, Norm received a long-awaited posting to Comox BC. This move brought them closer to extended family and gave them the opportunity to purchase their first house. The Renovation Years began when Norm, who was always handy, became an honest Jack of all Trades. Norm made their house a home fit for his large family.

After 20+ years of service with the Air Force, Norm took a leap of faith and changed careers, taking on a new role as an Oiler on a Ferry for the BC Department of Highways. Norm quickly rose to a new challenge, and after years of hard work and studying, he earned his First Class Marine Engineer ticket in 1987. After a few different "Chief" postings, Norm settled happily on a two-week rotation, working on the "Queen of the North" for BC Ferries. In 1999, Norm happily retired after a long life of working multiple jobs and a career change to support his large family.

With retirement came another move for Norm and Eleanor, this time to Ladysmith, BC. Norm built their retirement home, ensuring it was practical and comfortable for them to live out their final years together. With retirement also came years of snow-birding in Yuma, Arizona, USA, and a love for new hobbies such as wine and beer making and woodworking.

Norm's interests were vast; hockey was his favourite as a longstanding Montreal Canadian super fan. However, Norm enjoyed watching many sports and, over the years, played hockey, baseball, and, in later life, golf. Norm was also a music lover. His love of music started at a young age when Norm was a choir boy in a church. Later in life, he grew an appreciation of Dixieland, jazz & prominent big band artists. Norm found enjoyment in playing drums for the local Legion pipe band, he was a proud member since 1969. They would often be a part of the local Canada Day parade and his family would watch from the roof of their porch. He loved working with wood and often overbuilt most projects. While he had a knack for making furniture, he was most known for his beautiful burl clocks. For those who stopped by his house, you probably would have been lucky to sample a pint of that month's brew. Many of those that enjoyed a glass of Norm's beer where pleasantly surprised at the quality of the ale comparing it to their local watering hole. Norm loved his heritage and spent ten years building his and Eleanor's family trees into a book he published and shared among their families, a legacy that his family cherishes.

Norm is survived by his children: Norm Loiselle of Lantzville, Carolyne Loiselle of Burnaby, Denise Churchill (Chris) of Nanaimo, James Loiselle (Mitchy) of Courtenay, and Rose Flint (Ed) of Courtenay. His many Grandchildren will lovingly remember him: Megan, Danielle, M'Darla, Hailey, Derek, Ashley, Ryan, Chanelle, Nadia, and Celyn. Norm was also blessed to be a Great Grandfather to his Great-Grandchildren: Kathryn, Colten, Madison & Daisy. Norm is preceded in death by his lovely wife, Eleanor Loiselle (nee Richmond), on May 22, 2016.

Please join his family on October 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. for a Memorial Service at First Memorial, 270 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC. In place of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the BC Cancer Foundation (website http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/donate) or the Alzheimer Society of BC (website https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/take-action/donate) or by calling toll-free at 1-800-667-3742.

Norm's personality was as big

as his voice and will be greatly

missed by all who knew him.