Norah Elizabeth Kettle
Norah Elizabeth Kettle died peacefully on Monday December 22, 2025 at the age of 98.
She was predeceased by her spouse of 72 years, Reginald Robert Kettle (d. 2020).
Norah was also predeceased by her father Henry Columbine and her mother Catherine Columbine (neé Fay), and by her sisters Kitty, Maureen, Olive, Mamie and brothers Henry, Eddie and Finnbar. She is survived by her sister Sheilagh who lives in Australia. She is lovingly remembered by her children Robert, Richard and Elizabeth (Stephen). Her granddaughter Sophia will always remember the fun and laughter her Grandmother brought to all her imaginative games and adventures.
Norah was born in Dublin, Ireland, the sixth of nine children. She grew up in a close-knit family where the older siblings looked out for the younger ones. While still a little girl, Norah and her family moved from Ireland to England and settled in Leeds in Yorkshire. Norah loved school, but at the age of 14 she had to leave and join the workforce. After several misstarts doing manual labour jobs, Norah found that her ability with numbers opened doors into business offices where she learned the skills of bookkeeping.
Norah met Reg Kettle after the war while he was doing his National Service in the Royal Airforce at Cranwell in Lincolnshire. Lincoln Cathedral in the nearby city of Lincoln became a favourite spot for Norah and Reg to visit. Subsequently, they married in Leeds on February 21st in 1948, and then lived in Derby where Reg worked for Rolls Royce and Norah became a bookkeeper for Brookhouse Johnson Ltd. In 1963, Norah’s sense of adventure called and she convinced Reg and their sons Robert and Richard to emigrate to Canada. The family first settled in Campbellford, and a year later in Trenton where Elizabeth was born as a first generation Canadian. After three years, the family moved to Port Hope where Norah became an entrepreneur starting up two variety stores and an ice cream shop. A while later she opened her own H&R Block franchise in downtown Cobourg. In addition to these endeavours she continued her life-long interests in sewing and knitting; Norah was always busy making costumes for dolls and for people involved in plays, shows and parades.
Norah and Reg made many journeys by ship and plane across the Atlantic Ocean, to visit with extended family in England. For many years, they also made an annual migration to their winter home in Bradenton, Florida. In the summer time, they spent lots of quality time in their Ennismore cottage enjoying the view over Pigeon Lake. Norah and Reg moved to Wellington on the Lake in 2006 where they spent many happy years making new friends and enjoying the beauty of Prince Edward County. She organized dance groups, community shows and fundraisers connecting with many residents who became fast friends.
Reg and Norah sold their home in Wellington on the Lake in 2019. Reg had already moved into a care home and Norah moved into her daughter’s family home in Ottawa. Two years later she moved into the Unitarian House retirement home where she quickly became a member of a very active community. Once again, she became an active leader and an engaged and caring member of her community. Norah passed peacefully at Bruyère Health Saint-Vincent Hospital in Ottawa.
A celebration of life for family and friends, will be held on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 2PM at All Saints Anglican Church, 347 Richmond Rd., Ottawa, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
