Noreen Sutherland

Two older siblings Milton ( sadly passed way too soon in 2005 ) and Betty Kellough and the youngest Robert ( Bob ).

The Swanson family of six resided in Kitsilano, Noreen`s only home until she moved out to get married. Many life long friendships were made during this time and throughout her school years. Many of these friends attended her surprise 70th birthday party with the exception of Joan Smith ( Hilton ) who was taken far too soon in 2001.

Noreen attended Kitsilano high school until grade 11 where she then followed her passion of hairdressing at the age of 17. During her training in hairdressing school she could not always afford classes and therefore became a hair model in turn learning by sitting and listening. At a young age Noreen knew what her passion and dreams were.

During her training in hairdressing she met her husband Elliot by chance at the movie theatre, they were both there in different groups of their friends. Obviously Noreen caught his eye and soon they started courting and they married shortly after that in 1958. Noreen at age 19 and Elliot age 21 then moved to North Vancouver into an apartment on third Street.

Noreen continued to work in the Kitsilano area and travelled to work by public transit. They enjoyed time with good friends sharing a six pack of beer on weekends between four people.

In 1960 is when they purchased their first home together on Western Avenue in the central Lonsdale area. This home was on a quarter acre of land which got plenty of use with an above ground pool that hosted many parties and created many memories. So many great gatherings with some fabulous people and too many stories to share here. If you ever attended a party at “ bug house lane” then you have your own great memories…..wink wink. This is where the entertaining bug started for Noreen.

Approximately one year later in 1961 Noreen opened up her own hair salon that was previously an attached garage to the house. Noreen began to build quite a clientele during the coming years, some still around 50 plus years later.

Then in 1964 daughter Marni was born. Noreen worked right up until the end of her pregnancy and only took a short maternity leave before heading back to her passion as a hairdresser. This is where the Graves and Wilson families helped out with child care during Marni`s younger years. Lifelong friendships formed through these experiences.

Then the next chapter included Judy and the Coogan clan. The beginning of decades worth of parties, weddings, holiday gatherings, babies and trips and memories galore.

Growing up Marni enjoyed camping and Rv`ing with her parents but mostly spent all of her youth and teenage years in the Gymnastics club Flicka. Along with the club fees parents were obligated to put in a substantial amount of volunteer hours. So Noreen became involved with score keeping at competitions and Elliot was part of the equipment crew setting up and taking down all the apparatuses.

One big component as well was fundraising in the later years so Noreen and Elliot hosted annual club garage sales that were quite epic. So much so that people would randomly knock on their front door to ask when the next garage sale was. Again many life long friendships were made along the way through the gymnastics club community.

In 1976 the Sutherland family moved to a new home in upper Lonsdale near Princess Park. The following year Noreen and Elliot bought a condo in Whistler, following the lead of other family members who also owned places in Whistler. The family and extended family enjoyed many weekends and summer vacations up there. A great place for kids and cousins to create lasting bonds. So many great memories with family and friends were made in Whistler for the next thirteen years.

When the family moved to upper Lonsdale this also was the end of Noreens own business as a salon owner and operator. She then started work renting chairs in a few salons over the many years that followed in the central Lonsdale area. Her clients followed her wherever she went, she had such a loyal clientele that speaks volumes to her talent, her character, her beautiful friendships and that they were friends and clients all wrapped up together. So many people along the way including colleagues that had became fast friends still to this day.

Over the years Noreen and Elliot travelled to England, Scotland, Hawaii many times, Las Vegas, Arizona, Mexico, California, Florida, New Orleans, and several trips throughout B.C. and Alberta.

Many of the more local trips were for Noreens family reunions from her moms side of the family The Macleods. Noreen was passionate about family, all of her family was important to her and she kept in touch with as many as possible throughout the years. In most cases if not for Noreen many branches of the family would not see one another so that became her mission attending reunions and then hosting so many family BBQ`s, birthdays, halloween costume parties ( she loved dressing up ), Christmas parties and if she was not invited to a party watch out because she might just show up anyways. She had a way of making everyone feel special and important.

December 31, 1999 New Years Eve was brought in at the Sutherland home with an epic Millennium party that included a front yard firework display. This marked a new chapter where the Whistler condo was sold and new things were to be experienced. This next chapter included many a Casino. Noreen found sitting at a slot machine relaxing, cathartic even. “ a free your mind of all things” happy place.

Over the next couple of decades monthly getaways across the line into Washington state were very much enjoyed. In fact, if there was was a casino to be found they would find it even in the smallest of towns.

Countless trips soon began to revolve around casinos including complimentary hotels stays all over. Endless casino membership cards could be found scattered throughout the car and her luggage alike.

Noreen loved to entertain her family and friends and hosted many dinners and parties including Robbie Burns, Easters, Halloween, Thanksgivings and Christmas's.

She was house proud, she actually loved to clean her house as it brought her much pleasure and pride. She had a knack for home decor and especially Christmas as every room was tastefully decorated.

If it was a dinner it would be the most lovely tablescapes she could create. Being creative and keeping her hands busy was all she knew. From a young age Noreen was knitting and right up until her last months even.

This is when Marni finally got her blanket as it seemed everyone else had had one. She donated many of her scarves, gloves and hats to the local Christmas bureau over the years.

Any type of crafting was her thing. Her supplies exploded into many closets and drawers.

In 2013 Noreen and Elliot down sized from their house of 37 years into a beautiful condo in Lynn Valley. Noreen was reluctant at first especially leaving behind all those wonderful memories made in that house and the yard, so many fond memories of Milestone birthdays, retirements and holiday gatherings. Well it actually did not take too long for Noreen to settle in with all new furniture and the biggest kitchen and island she had ever owned.

It was nice to live across the street from Marni and have a turn key home that allowed so many getaway's. Popping off here and there every month brought Noreen and Elliot a lot of enjoyment.

Noreen was still working but had cut back her work to two days per week so long weekends were a plenty. Noreen and Marni had many mother/ daughter trips over the years that included spa weekends in Whistler and Vancouver Island.

Two trips to Las Vegas for Marni`s 45th birthday and an Epic 50th birthday. There were numerous B.C. AIRBNB stays as well.

Sadly Covid forced Noreen into an early retirement at the age of 82, yes 82 years young. Tears flowed for many weeks as she realized that she would no longer do the “ thing “ that gave her the most joy in her life. A very long hair dressing career of 65 years now over. Doing Elliot and Marni`s hair at home scratched her itch but did not in anyway fulfil her in the same way. The hardest part was the people, missing her fellow hair dressers, the laughter, the stories, her clients and her friends.

While most people hated being stuck at home during covid -including Elliot, Noreen enjoyed her forced time at home. She began baking more than she ever had before now having the time, trying new recipes and gifting the extras away to neighbours and family. Knitting more than ever, gifting cotton clothes to visiting nurses and friends and doing Marni`s blanket. Noreen always enjoyed her iPad but learned that playing her casino games on it helped fill the void of in person play. Then Marni introduced her to Pinterest, an exciting app full of endless ideas that wastes time like no other. It actually made her crazy because she wanted to try and make everything, literally all of the recipes and all the crafts. There was never ever enough time to create all that she wanted to do, so many supplies left untouched.

Her creative juices flowed every single day, whether or not in the kitchen or being distracted by cleaning and moving decor items around during the process or cleaning out a closet and finding years and years worth of greeting cards, as she threw nothing away. These cards were always intended to be repurposed into new gift tags but again there is never enough time to fit it all in. Creating fun chocolate was something Noreen started a few Christmas's back, making fun shapes and gifting them away to nurses, pharmacists that helped out along the way and Elliot and Marni enjoyed then too, she loved making and gifting things.

As Noreen settled into her retirement she enjoyed gardening on her sundeck and also “ Her birds” . Hummingbirds became a favourite pastime. She was fascinated by them, often standing at the window trying to find them camouflaged in the trees. Daily she would look out for various birds visiting her feeder and shout out," look-look-look “ until you finally said yes! We like to believe that the Hummingbird is her spirit animal -symbolizing Joy, Healing, Good Luck, Messages from spirits and Positive energy. We think this embodies her perfectly. She has many Hummingbird custom pieces of jewellery made especially for her and a few special birds hanging throughout her home.

Noreen fell ill in September 2021 with a diagnosis of Cancer in November 2021.She was a very positive and fearless lady whom all her amazing caregivers took notice of. She kept her spirits high and did everything that was suggested to treat her.

In the end she passed peacefully in Hospice Care on September 2, 2022.

Noreen will be lovingly remembered for her life long passion for doing hair, being a confidant to many. Her infectious laughter and smile, her kindness and generous heart touched everyone who knew her. This beautiful soul left us too soon but Heaven gained an incredible Angel.

Life was better with you in it Mom. Thanks for being a great role model, an inspiration to all, and the loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend to all. We love you dearly and miss you and you will be cherished always!

IN MEMORIAM

Grieve not for me

Nor mourn the while,

For happier would I be

To see you smile.

Let no tears fall

Since I have passed away,

But miss me and

Remember me each day.

Live your lives

As I would want you to,

And treat thy fellow people

As I would do.

And when the time has come,

Your lives be through,

I shall be waiting here

For each of you.