COMMUNITY LOSES BELOVED POST MISTRESS

Norma Jean Sutton was an institution in Reaboro. Post Mistress at the local post office for more than 40 years, Norma Jean passed away June 21, 2020. She is survived by her three children and their families. Here's a story about Norma Jean run in The Kawartha Promoter on June 2, 2017.

REABORO'S POST MISTRESS

By Kirk Winter

It is an unfortunate fact of life that too many people today do not enjoy their jobs. Norma Jean Sutton, Post Mistress of Reaboro, is definitely not one of those people.

In April of 2017, more than 100 friends and family gathered at the Sutton’s home to celebrate Norma Jean’s 50th anniversary running the post office in this steadily growing community between Lindsay and Omemee.

Later in April, local community members were joined by executives from Canada Post who recognized Norma Jean for her long service to the corporation. Norma Jean received a lovely commemorative plaque and letter from the Cabinet Minister responsible for Canada Post.

When Norma Jean became Post Mistress on April 1, 1967, she was looking for a home-based business that would allow her to raise her three small children while earning some additional income. Little did she realize how long she would stay, or how important she and her post office would become to Reaboro.

After the general store closed in 1962, the school closed in 1967 and the Baptist Church relocated to Omemee, Norma Jean’s post office became an important symbol of a community that was going to persevere and grow.

Norma Jean has been called the “Ambassador for Reaboro”. It is the constant interaction with her customers, who have since become her friends, that keeps her coming back every day. Fifty families in the village, and 148 on the rural route delivered by Kelly Stefaroy, rely upon the friendly and helpful service provided by Norma Jean at her post office twenty hours a week.

Norma Jean said she has “no intention of retiring anytime soon”. She is truly a lucky lady, and Reaboro is fortunate to have her.