Wendy Norton

Wendy Jane Norton died peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital after an eight month battle with cancer with her husband John Barr, daughter Barbara Poiriez, son Joe Norton, and good friends Annie Gibbons, Susan Ayers, and Nancy Salonpuro by her side. She fought her cancer with grace and dignity.

Wendy was born in Washington, County Durham, England on September 24, 1940. She was the daughter of Matthew and Mary Anderson and the sister of Jack Anderson and Joy Patrick. Wendy lost her father at the age of 6 and the family moved to Crosby Garret, near Applebee in northwest England. She attended boarding school prior to enrolling at the Carlisle College of Art and Design in 1959. She graduated and worked as a commercial artist in Carlisle. In 1963 she moved to Trinidad to work as a substitute teacher for her sister Joy. Wendy moved to Nassau Bahamas to work for the Nassau newspaper in 1966 and moved to El Paso, Texas the following year.

Wendy would eventually move to Breckenridge, Colorado where she raised her two children Joe and Barb. Wendy managed Goods – a unique apparel and shoe store and did much of the buying and designed the window displays. Her window displays were exceptionally innovative and many people in “Breck” looked forward to the changing of displays – especially Christmas windows.

In 1984, Wendy met the love of her life, John Barr. They remained sweethearts and best friends until her passing. They left Breckenridge in 1988 to move to Washington D.C. where she worked for a prominent fund raising company and John worked for Marriott International. Two years later they relocated to Cambridge MA and eventually settled to a home on Bass River in South Yarmouth, MA.

Wendy was an extraordinarily talented person. She was a gourmet cook, painter, made pottery bowls, wrote poetry, wrote and illustrated children’s stories, arranged flowers, and designed beautiful gardens at both of her Cape Cod homes. She enjoyed traveling with John and was always up for a new adventure. She could always be found in her chair overlooking the Bass River reading a book.

Her family and friends remember her for her kindness, softness, great sense of humor and her generosity.

Wendy was preceded in death by her mother, father, and her sister Joy. She is survived by husband John, daughter Barbara and husband Andre, son Joe and wife Cindy, five beloved grandchildren – Thomas, Louis, Jack, Lily, and Abby, brother Jack Anderson and wife Susan of Scotland, and nephews Richard Patrick, Marcus Patrick and wife Tracy, and Martin Anderson and wife Claire of England, Michael Anderson and wife Kathleen of Scotland, and Simon Patrick and wife Sarah of France.

Wendy received amazing care from Dr. Dan Arnold and Mel Beveridge of Emerald Physicians, Dr. Justin Yamin, Bonnie Zahn from the Radiology Department, and a host of people from Dr. Frank Basile’s Oncology Department including, Frank B., Maryann S., Janice N., Erin, P., Mary B., Mary K.P., Kevin S., and Carol W.

A life celebration will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 205 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:00 AM with a reception following at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Wendy’s name to the Cape Cod Hospital Oncology Department.