Norah Isobel Gibson (nee Rottger) passed away on February 20th 2019 in her 91st year, after a period of illness that she faced with the determination and courage that was a hallmark of her life.
She will be greatly missed by Samuel W N Gibson her husband of 67 years and her children Gillian Gibson (William Taylor), Colin Gibson (Pauline) and Peter Gibson as well as 5 grandchildren, Mathew and Stephen Taylor, and William, Meriel and Samuel Gibson. She is predeceased by her brother William Rottger and survived by her brother Fredric Rottger of Belfast.
Norah was born on April 20th 1927 in Belfast Northern Ireland, the daughter of Ernest and Alice (Forbes) Rottger. She attended Richmond Lodge School for young ladies where she excelled at sports (lacrosse and swimming) and academics. She was an accomplished pianist and was fluent in German. During the war the Rottgers took shelter at their country home on the Irish Sea, and Norah travelled by bicycle to school, often in darkness. Norah attended Queens University Belfast where she earned her qualification as a medical doctor (one of a few women to do so at this time), while competing in swimming at the national level.
Norah met Sam, the love of her life, while on medical rounds at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. They married in Belfast in 1951. While Sam completed his ophthalmology training in London, England and San Francisco Sam and Norah started their family. In 1957 they emigrated to Vancouver to build a new life together in Canada. Keeping in touch with the family and friends in the UK was always a priority for Norah, with Christmas and birthday cards and biannual trips home.
Norah was the ultimate homemaker, a fabulous cook, and devoted mother. The Macdonald Street kitchen hummed with batches of homemade marmalade, preserves, and fresh baking. Active family holidays included skiing at Manning Park and Silver Star, fishing and being by the seaside at Qualicum and Lasqueti.
Outside of the home, Norah enjoyed tennis, gardening, potting with her good friends “The Downstairs Potters” and being an active member of the UBC Botanical Garden ( a “FOG’). Her amazing knowledge of plants and accurate memory for botanical names came in handy with cataloguing the huge variety of plants at the UBC garden.
Norah and Sam shared many hours in the garden, both at Macdonald Street and their beloved cottage at Qualicum. Norah and Sam were a steadfast team supporting one another throughout their 67 years of marriage.
Norah was always a source of comfort and sound medical advice for friends and family. She will be remembered for her astonishing memory and general knowledge, which was almost encyclopedic. She loved to read and there wasn’t a word she didn’t know or couldn’t spell. Norah bestowed a life long love of learning and interest in people to her children and grandchildren. She was known as “Noni” to her 5 grandchildren, who will all remember the special times they shared with her and the many birthday cakes she whipped up effortlessly.
Norah chose a career as a homemaker, wife and mother and we were all so lucky to have benefited for so many years from her love and talents.
In lieu of flowers, the family has established the Norah Gibson Memorial Fund at UBC Botanical Garden. To donate, please visit: https://memorial.support.ubc.ca/norah-gibson/
The family give a special thank you to the team of outstanding caregivers at Braddan Private Hospital in Vancouver.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Norah’s memory at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club on Friday March 22 at 2 pm.
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