1928 – 2025
Norma Sveinson was born to Herschel and Gladys Moyer at Alsask, Saskatchewan on April 26, 1928. She had an older sister, Verna. During the drought of the early 30's, the family walked away from their farm to resettle near Innisfail, Alberta in the Big Bend and Markerville areas.
The family was very musical which led to lifelong experiences of piano and organ playing, choral directing and singing. This became a passion that she shared with her father, husband, Allan, and daughters, Lynn, Laurie and Leone. In earlier years, Hershel, Norma and Allan sang together. In later life she and friends formed a trio called Hashbrown Harmony which performed in venues around Central Alberta.
Norma met Allan when they attended Markerville School, followed by High School in Red Deer. When they married in 1948, they joined Norma's parents on what became the Family Farm near Innisfail in the school district of Buffalo Creek. They named their home Melody Meadows. Gardening and flower beds were annual endeavors with Norma's parents playing a large part. Norma and her mother were active members of the Buffalo Creek Sewing Circle. When Norma and Allan no longer hired help, they became a farming team of two. During harvest, Norma loaded the truck “on the go” from the combine, backed up to the auger and unloaded like a pro. They worked into the nights until it was too damp to continue and talked with neighboring farmers via CB radio.
As a young woman Norma also became skilled at sewing. She was a 4H member in Markerville and later helped to lead a 4H club when her daughters were old enough to join. Matching outfits for her daughters became a given for special events. As quilting began a resurgence in
the early 2000's Norma made sure children and grandchildren each received quilts.
When Norma and Allan began to semi-retire, then fully retire, they began a new chapter of life by spending winters in Arizona. The community they became part of was full of dancing, singing, golfing and potlucks. They enjoyed 30 seasons there.
Norma and Allan continued to live at Melody Meadows until 2019 when they moved into an assisted living facility in Calgary. Allan passed away a year later. They had been partners in life and love since their teen years. After a few years, Norma decided she needed a new start and moved to another residence very near to her daughter, Lynn. Norma’s optimism was an inspiration for her family. She was thrilled with her new location, and it was there that she died peacefully at the age of 97.
Left to lovingly remember Norma are her daughter Lynn (Jerry), their son Alexes (Maggie) and great-grandchildren Stark and Roman and daughter Anna (Jeff); daughter Laurie (Larry), their son Cole (Shelley) and great-granddaughter Wynter and son Cal. Predeceased by daughter Leone and remembered by Leone's son Drew (Fab) and great-grandchildren Poppy and Remi and Leone's daughter Bailey and great-grandchildren Domonik, Bella, Sylas, Declan and Haddie. Norma and Allan were also predeceased by an infant daughter.
