Obituary of Bernice Noblitt

President of the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada Order of Ontario Passed away peacefully at the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital on February 1, 2009 at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Harvey Noblitt and the cherished mother of the late Shirley Walker. She will be fondly remembered by her devoted son-in-law, Steven Walker; her much-loved grandchildren Dawn (Arthur), Sabrina, Jesse (Rebecca) and Sheldon; her adored great-grandson, Bryce; her dear sister, Leslie Pugh of Victoria, B.C.; her brother, Kenneth Phillips (Sharon) of Waskatenau, Alberta; her sister-in-law, Hazel Phillips (Douglas) of Edmonton; her niece, Julie Mitchell (Carl) of Ottawa; and many other nieces, nephews, friends, and fellow members of the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario, the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada, and the Associated Country Women of the World. Predeceased by patents Blanche (Tudhope) and Leslie Phillips of Waskatenau, Alberta and her siblings Iva Simpson, Gertrude Bellrose, Luella Waddell and Douglas Phillips. Bernice received her teacher’s training at the Edmonton Normal School and went on to teach in mining camps in Northern Ontario and in Ottawa. In addition to her teaching career, she was an avid gardener, a wonderful cook, an excellent seamstress and knitter, a talented creator of many different crafts (petit point in particular), and a voracious reader. She was very active in church work (St. Giles Presbyterian) and in her community. Her great love in that regard was the Women’s Institute. During her long association with the W.I., she held many offices: Branch President, Branch Director, District President, Federation Representative, Board Director, Provincial President, Resolutions Convener and Ontario’s Vice President of FWIC; and received many honors: life membership in her Branch, her district, in FWIO, FWIC, and the Associated Country Women of the World; and an award set up in her name by the Ottawa Area W.I. Bernice received the Queen’s medal in 1977, and in 1988, the province of Ontario granted her its highest honor: the Order of Ontario. She was a great champion of women’s rights and an inspiration to all who know her. Special thanks to Dr. Cindy Morrison and staff at the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will be held on February 21st, 2009 at the Boyce Funeral Home, 138 Daniel St. North, Arnprior. Visitation at 2:00 p.m. followed by service in the chapel at 3:00 p.m. In Bernice’s memory, donations to the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital (Partners in Caring Campaign) would be appreciated by the family.