Norma Barrett

After losing a brief battle with brain cancer, Norma passed away peacefully under the loving care of the staff at May Court Hospice Ottawa. Daughter of the late Arthur Barrett and Norma (Stevens), she is predeceased by brother Edward (Ted) Barrett. Norma is survived by husband Rob, sister Barb (Eric), children Kate (Colin), Ken (Christine), granddaughters McKenna and Rebecca, nieces Renee and Debbie and nephews Peter and Paul. She will be greatly missed by her dear friends Barbara Clark, Jean Tanner, Cynthia Greer, Fred Graham, Barbara Green and Peggy Fish.

Norma's granddaughters McKenna and Rebecca were the light of her life and they have fulfilled her fondest hope, becoming accomplished musicians.

As a Timmins, Ontario girl, Norma attended Queen's University in Kingston (Arts ‘70) as an Ontario scholar. While earning her BA in English and French, she performed with the Queen's Glee Club, taking lead roles in their Gilbert and Sullivan productions. After her marriage to Lt Robert Mellon (RMC ‘68) and upon graduation they moved to Belleville, Ontario, where their children were born.

Posted to Ottawa in 1973, Norma became involved in choral singing, first at her church and with the Canadian Centennial Choir and then with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa of which she was a member for twenty years. Additionally she sang with the National Arts Centre Opera Chorus (1980-1991) and appeared often with the critically-acclaimed Renaissance group Musica Divina. Her great mentors were Brian Law and Wayne Riddell and was much in demand for her wide-ranging vocal skills.

In 1980 Norma was offered the position of Administrative Secretary at her Parish (St. Mark the Evangelist Anglican Church in Ottawa) where she served faithfully for 25 years.

Since 1987 Norma has sung with the award-winning Choir of the Church of St Barnabas A & M in downtown Ottawa, directed by her dear friend Wesley Warren. In 2006 she commissioned an anthem ("Open Thou Mine Eyes") for the choir from Canadian composer Eleanor Daley and published in 2011. She retired from that choir in 2015 as an Honorary Life Member.

Visitation to be held at Tubman Funeral Homes, Garden Chapel, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean , Friday July 27, 2018, from 1:00 - 3:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

Requiem mass to be held at St. Barnabas A&M Church, Ottawa, Saturday July 28, 2018 at 11:00 am. Visitation in the church from 10:00 - 11:00 am prior to the service. Reception to follow in the church hall. Donations in Norma's name may be made to May Court Hospice Ottawa