Noreen Victory Paxton (nee Prescott)

Noreen passed away at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, of complications from pneumonia at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Richard Paxton, her cherished son Doug, and her parents Charles. D. Prescott and Norah (Woodburn) of The Pas, Manitoba.

She will be forever missed by her daughters Adria & Laurie Paxton, her four grandchildren Chelsea Bartosik (Connor Taylor), Alexander Bartosik, Ashley Paxton (Nebil Nasif) and Mathew Galczynski, and great grandchildren, Bentley and Masyn.

Noreen was born on May 9, 1927, in The Pas, Manitoba. From a one room schoolhouse in The Pas, Noreen headed south to the University of Manitoba graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1947, and from McGill University in Montreal with a Diploma Education in 1970. She married Richard Paxton P. Eng. in Montreal in May of 1954 beginning a lifelong partnership of intrepid world travel and adventure. They made homes in Sherbrooke, then St. Bruno, Quebec, Clarkson (Mississauga), Ontario, Trinidad & Tobago, and finally back in Clarkson. Weekends and summers were spent in Austin, Quebec and then Port Carling, Muskoka, a launching pad for their camping and paddling outings with the Muskoka Field Naturalists, and picnics and hikes with their children and grandchildren. Noreen fostered a keen interest in nature and times spent outdoors in her children and grandchildren that resonate to this day.

Noreen was a swimmer, hiker, paddler, sailor, occasional golfer, generous and prolific hostess and rum lover. She also had an affinity for steel band music. In Clarkson, Noreen was very active in Christ First United Church and the Canadian Federation of University Women Mississauga. An accomplished pianist, she taught piano and was a substitute teacher for the Peel Board of Education. Noreen was deeply committed to the education of her children and grandchildren, creating and supporting every opportunity for them in this pursuit.

Before and during retirement, she and Richard traversed the globe visiting over 20 countries from China to the Antarctic, Galapagos, Egypt, Turkey and Israel to name a few, always with history and humanities as their guide. Equipped with their Tilley hats, sturdy shoes and maps in hand, they often travelled in one star style just to be there. Noreen continued to travel in widowhood to South Africa, the South Pacific, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and beyond into her ‘80s. Noreen and Richard were avid paddlers conquering the Spanish River (ON), Yukon River (BC, YT, AK) and Green Rivers (UT) and every single waterway in Muskoka. Noreen continued to paddle until she was 89.

Noreen spent her last months in the cradle of superior care with the Memory Care unit at Amica Little Lake in Barrie, to whom we are forever grateful. Their kindness and tender attention to Noreen will never be forgotten.

Cremation has taken place for a later Celebration of Life with friends and family to be announced. As an expression of sympathy, donations to THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to BASIC FUNERALS AND CREMATION CHOICES, 152 Bradford Street, Barrie, Ontario.