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Norma Frances (née Genge) Hargreaves died peacefully in Kingston, Ont., on June 25, 2023, with her family by her side. Norma is survived by her daughters, Vicki (Artsci/Ed'90), Gayle (Artsci'80) (spouse Peter Muir), and Lynn Hargreaves; cherished grandsons, Jeremiah (spouse Hannah Peck) and Eli (spouse Ginny Kozemczak) Bach, their father, Michael Bach, Alexander (spouse Li Xiaowei - Vivienne) and Peter Gordon Muir; great grandchildren, Evan, Chloe, and Marcus Muir; sister-in-law, Judy Hargreaves (the late C. Ward Hargreaves); and a large extended family. Norma’s beloved husband of 60 years, J.W. Douglas Hargreaves (BA'60; LLD hc 2012), predeceased her in 2016.

Born in Smith Falls, Ont., on Sept. 15, 1933, Norma grew up in Westport, Ont., where her parents, Blanche (Bauder) and Percival Genge, ran the Genge General Store. Always at or near the top of her class at school, Norma loved to swim, skate, and ski. She studied classical piano through the Royal Ontario Conservatory of Music, but she was also known to set the room bouncing with a little boogie-woogie. Norma held her own as the only girl in a family of boys: brothers Bernard “Bud” (Patricia "Pat"), James “Jim”(BSc'48) (Dorothy), and cousin Walter “Gus” Layfield (Sara “Sally,” now Milne) predeceased her, excepting Sara.

Norma pursued a nursing career, graduating from the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) School of Nursing in 1955. She was a member of the Queen’s Nursing Science class of 1956. Norma worked in neonatal intensive care at KGH and at Izaak Walton Killam Hospital in Halifax, N.S., and in the KGH Fraser Armstrong medical clinics. After retiring, Norma volunteered for many years with KGH Auxiliary and the Cancer Society.

While studying nursing, Norma met the love of her life, Doug Hargreaves, who came to Queen's as an Officer Cadet in the University Reserve Training Program and went on to become one of the most recognized and respected figures in Canadian university football. Norma and Doug married in 1956, then moved to Moose Jaw, Sask., where they started their family and Doug served as an RCAF flight instructor. With grace and fortitude, Norma managed many relocations (and three daughters) during Doug’s career.

Norma and Doug were delighted to return to Kingston in 1976, where Doug served as Head Football Coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels and Associate Professor in the School of Physical Education. Doug had a long and successful career as a coach and educator. In 2012, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Queen's in recognition of his contributions to the university, intercollegiate athletics, the sport of football nationally and in Europe, and for the positive impact he had on the lives of many hundreds of young people. Through these years, Norma was his solid rock, and number one Gael’s football fan. Like Doug, Norma took a personal interest in the well-being of the young people she knew. More than a few of Doug’s players and students think of Norma as a “second Mom,” or even “Saint Norma.” Many remember her kindness and generosity, as well as the quiet yet supportive steadying influence she had on “Coach.”

Before retirement and after, as they sailed, skied and traveled in North America and Europe, Norma and Doug were anchors for their family. They made friends of all ages and walks of life. The cottage they built north of Kingston became a much-loved family gathering place. Norma and Doug spent early retirement winters skiing, building a community of friends in the Rocky Mountains.

Through all of this, Norma went out of her way to help others: whether through a kind word, a home-cooked meal for a lonely student, a place to stay – her compassion and thoughtfulness knew no bounds. Norma was the steadfast light and warm heart of her family. She was loved for her kind and generous nature, her inquisitive mind, and her devotion to family.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate Norma’s life on Saturday, July 29 at The Cove Inn in Westport, Ontario, beginning at 12 p.m.

On May 2, Katherine Dinner, lover of public health, teller of stories, and Queen’s Life Science class of 1978, passed away in Ottawa. 

After leaving Queen’s, Katherine went on to achieve her Master’s in Nursing from McGill and from that point on never stopped helping others. She was a devoted public servant, working for Health Canada for over 20 years and becoming a champion and mentor for the rookies on staff. She was a proud recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2012. She was a loyal friend, who would regale those close to her with stories of her past lives as a student burning her nose hair out after smelling chemicals in the lab, or from her time on reserve as an RN for Indigenous communities in the north to her always captive audiences. She was our family’s inaugural member of the Queen’s cult, a legacy continued by Laura Dinner (BComm'82), William Rooney (Artsci'17) and Trish Rooney (Artsci'20). 

Kathy was imagination. She was a loving aunt, an eldest sister to the very end, a favourite cousin and niece, and a daughter who will, more than anything, be so happy to be reunited with her mom and dad. 

In her final act of selflessness, her lungs were donated in a living organ transplant. She simply couldn’t leave this world without giving a piece of herself to one more person, one last time. She will be so missed.

John Peter Dufton, age 81, died in Almonte, Ont., on Feb. 18, 2023, after a long illness. Peter is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, Jennifer Dufton (Paul) and John Dufton (Monique); and his sister, Carol Russell (Glen). He will be sorely missed by his grandchildren: Daniel, Alexandra, Finn, Jasper, Jasmine, Megan, Hannah and Everett.

Peter will be remembered for his love of life, his exuberant personality, his infectious laugh and engaging smile. Behind the smile lay an intelligent, witty, loyal and creative man. He and his wife Marilyn, enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage as best friends, partners, and parents.

Peter attended Queen’s (Engineering). This led to a career in telecommunications research at Automatic Electric in Brockville and Microtel Pacific Research in Vancouver. During his 30 year career, several patents for his work were registered in his name. 

Post retirement, Peter’s second professional career was with an Ottawa Company, where he developed simplified code for performing radiation shielding calculations.

Peter was an avid curler — a lifelong passion. While growing up in Montreal, he discovered the game and every winter, until well into his 70s, he could be found on the curling rink with his team and many good friends. 

In quiet times, he spent endless hours researching the Dufton family tree and the history of Bedford Mills. Peter loved gardening, working with wood, renovating and rebuilding, as evidenced by his many projects at the family cottage on Devil Lake. There he enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle with his cousins and friends. Summers with his children and grandchildren were the highlight of every year.

Carol Ann “Annie” Hillock (nee Smith) passed away May 23, 2023 at the age of 61. She is survived by her husband, Kevin; daughter, Sarah; and son, Stephenson; sister, Lorna Winstone (Smith) (Artsci/Ed’86); brother-in-law, Trent Winstone (MBA’88); as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Annie was instrumental in keeping her nursing class together throughout the years with the biannual “Anecdotal Note” nursing newsletter and key in coordinating the class alumni reunions. Her infectious spirit was evident, as she loved to see people connected through nursing, sports activities, crafts, and community-minded projects. In 2010 she was elected to the Queen’s University Council as an alumni representative. For the last six years she was chair of the nominating committee, overseeing the election of alumni to the council.

She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.