Fueten, The Reverend Nora Elizabeth (nee Clemons)
Born in Brantford in 1940, died January 10th 2024. Daughter of George and Helen Clemons (Henry). Predeceased by her husband Horst (2018) also sister Ketha (1984) and brother David (2012) and son-in-law Danny (2022).
Survived by daughters Louise Ciarniello and Mary (Jon) Hatt, Step-Son Frank (Paula MacKinnon) and grandchildren Anna, Simon and Julie. As well as sister-in-law Pat Clemons, brother-in-law Duncan McLaren, and extended family in Canada and Germany.
Nora loved life in all its fullness. Her love of nature was kindled at Blue Lake as a child, continued in the Rocky Mountains, Algonquin Park and hiking in Germany.
From an early age Nora loved music, beginning with piano. She completed conservatory exams while quite young then took up pipe organ leading to church positions and choir directions wherever she was living. Moved to working in opera in Toronto in 1967 with the Canadian Opera Company and the Faculty of Music University of Toronto, then at the Deutches Oper am Rhein in 1971. In 1974 she met Horst and they were married in 1975.
Returning to Canada in 1976 in order to take up sheep farming with Horst on the family farm north of St George. She continued in music at First United Church in Cambridge and the Faculty of Music Wilfred Laurier University. She was also founding conductor of the Hosanna choir in Flamborough. Her music interest continued later with conducting the St. George Pro Musica.
In 1984 she began exploring a call to ministry in the United Church of Canada. Ordained in 1988. The work of ministry was endlessly interesting, full of opportunity and gave a focus to the rest of her life. Her first church was Marlborough (later Harmony), in Brantford, where she served until 2002. Although retired, she continued in ministry throughout appointments in Brant county, also St James and Old Winham in Simcoe, First United in Waterloo and Westdale in Hamilton. She was in Ministry at St. George United until June of 2023 when her health no longer allowed her to continue.
Nora was also politically very engaged. She was a federal candidate for the Green Party in the 2008 and 2011 Federal elections and subsequently remained engaged with the Green Party locally.
Family and friends will be received at the McCleister Funeral Home, 495 Park Road North, Brantford on Friday, January 19, 2024 from 2:00 – 4:00 & 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at First United Church, 16 William Street West, Waterloo, ON on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will take place at St. George Cemetery, St. George, ON at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the United Church of Canada Foundation or to a charity of your choice. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.mccleisterfuneralhome.ca McCleister (519) 758-1553.
All of creation belongs to God
Nora Fueten was such an integral part of CFUW Brantford as was her mother before her.
We will miss Nora’s wonderful energy, creativity, honesty and focus.
