Norene Parker was a ‘glass half full’ person, especially if it was a glass of wine with ice | Canada Voices

Norene June Parker: Matriarch. Movie buff. Traveller. Storyteller. Born June 4, 1933, in Toronto; died Aug. 19, 2024, in London, Ont., of cardiac-renal failure; aged 91.

Norene McCafferty shared a life of singing, laughter and great conversations with her older sisters May, Betty and Eileen. She was the youngest born to Thomas and Margaret McCafferty during the hard days of the Depression.

Norene once said that she was poor but that she never knew it since her childhood was a fun and loving one and everyone around them was poor, too. Norene had a strong work ethic and in 1949, she was concerned about helping her family stay afloat in postwar economic times. She was offered a job at Bell Canada and left high school at 16 to begin a career that would last 34 years at the company.

She worked hard, was promoted quickly and witnessed many technological advances. In 1954, during Hurricane Hazel, she arrived at work so drenched that she had to change into a cafeteria uniform, the only dry clothes she could find. Norene would stay at the switchboard for many hours that day as it lit up with households calling in for help.

In 1962, Norene was selected to be in a Bell commercial and was given the star treatment with professional hair and makeup. She looked like a cross between Liz Taylor and Audrey Hepburn as she sat under the klieg lights for the shoot. She also sang in a jazz band briefly in her youth but she had no ambitions to pursue it as a career despite her success, instead she chose to sing around the house as she carried on with her day-to-day activities.

Norene met Frederic Parker at work in Toronto in the late 1960s. They met over coffee and chatted about how they’d both been employees selected to appear in Bell commercials. This led to more coffee dates and she followed Frederic when he was transferred to London, Ont. They married on Christmas Eve, 1970. It was the beginning of a 42-year love story.

Norene first met Frederic’s children in 1968 – Paul, Christopher and Debbie were teens when she met them and she quickly played a vital part in their lives. They often watched movies together, as Norene loved films. Their family Boxing Day ritual included three movies and a lunch outing. The 1942 film Now, Voyager, starring her favourite actress, Bette Davis, was treasured. She and Frederic loved to re-enact the scene where Jerry (actor Paul Henreid) lit up two cigarettes. Norene spoke Ms. Davis’s famous line and inserted her husband’s name: “Oh Frederic, don’t let’s ask for the moon; we have the stars!”

Norene always had a kind word for everyone but she was also independent and did not like to ask for help. She took a doggy bag with her when she dined out and never answered the phone but let the machine pick it up. Her family and friends knew she’d eventually call them back.

When she retired in 1981, she filled her days with friends, hosting countless barbecues and late-night dips in the backyard pool.

She loved being a grandmother and enjoyed the addition of each of her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Family was everything to her and she was happiest sharing time with her children’s families and Fred, until his death in 2012.

She took every opportunity to travel, whether sailing on the Queen Mary to Europe, flying to visit her daughter in France or driving with Fred to Florida where they spent many winters together.

The theme for Norene’s 90th birthday party was the Golden Age of Cinema, and she received a Lifetime Achievement “Oscar” for her kindness and grace. Family, friends and neighbours that had gathered in her backyard cheered loudly.

Norene accepted her health decline and tolerated her condition with the utmost grace. ” I’ve had a wonderful life,” she declared.

Norene was a “glass half full” kind of person, especially if it was a big glass of wine with lots of ice.

Christopher Parker is Norene Parker’s son; Valerie Haskell is her daughter-in-law.

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