Norianne Irena Kirkpatrick

With sadness we announce the death of Norianne Kirkpatrick at Vernon Jubilee Hospital on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Norianne Irena Kirkpatrick, the first of two girls, was born in Nottingham July 13, 1943, to Lillian May Davies and Norman Stallard. Her first school was Mary Erskine School for Girls, Edinburgh, Scotland.

She left her very pleasant life in Edinburgh when her father, Norman, became the head gardener at Glasgow Zoo. Living next to the zoo introduced her to many wild and exotic creatures at an early age and her love of animals would increase with the passing years.

She loved hiking in the Cairngorms, which prepared her for adventurous hikes in Canada later.

Norianne had wanted to go into hotel work, but in a period not long after the end of the Second World War, her parents had relatives use their influence to persuade her against it.

Apparently, they thought she might end up an old maid running a boardinghouse at Largs. In the end, Norianne entered JordanHill Teacher College. She qualified at 19 for her first teaching post at a small coal-mining town in Scotland. The atmosphere was one of stifling tradition; she had to count out how many thumbtacks she might need in the term. The headmaster, whose nickname was Miser, but was lauded for saving the school district money, refused to put on the heat even in the very depths of winter, so the teachers and kids wore their overcoats. Norianne would go on to win a CBC writing prize based on her.. experience in this school.

Norianne and Mike met in Vanway School, Prince George. They enjoyed team teaching together. Norianne by this time was separated from her first husband, Jimmy Kirkpatrick.

Willy Lynch was one of their best friends in Leicester where they married. Amazingly, Willy and Mike had been best pals as children in Enniscorthy, Ireland.

Norianne had a life-altering accident in Dease Lake-leaving her paraplegic. She worked hard in rehab and became very independent. We often think of bravery being the domain of athletes and soldiers. but I have never known a braver person than Norianne.

One summer Norianne had driven across the Prairies to be with her sister, Nell, in Toronto. She loved the grain elevators that dotted Prairie land. She tasked Mike with finding a place in the Okanagan/Shuswap country that had a railroad through town and also had an elevator. Mike arrived in Armstrong. It would be their home for nearly 50 years.

She very much enjoyed the get-togethers with the Aces group and other friends. Many times, I heard Home Care workers remark on how she made their day.

The doctors and nursing staff at Vernon Jubilee were excellent.

I would especially like to thank Tammy Stewart for help over and above.

Please, no flowers. If you wish: donate to UNICEF

A memorial service for Norianne will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 1:00 pm, at Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services, 2980 Smith Drive Armstrong, BC, with a reception to follow.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: