In Memoriam: Remembering Norena Gonzales, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)
- NSWOCC
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
It is with profound sadness that NSWOCC and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute share the passing of one our NSWOCC family members, Norena Gonzales, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), on August 16, 2026, following a courageous journey with cancer.
Many within our NSWOCC family will remember Norena—from studying alongside her, teaching and supporting her through the NSWOC Program, working with her as a colleague, or meeting her at our National Conference and other NSWOCC activities.
Those who knew Norena remember her extraordinary perseverance, her compassion, her enthusiasm for learning and, perhaps most of all, the tremendous joy and pride she found in being an NSWOC.
Norena's path to becoming an NSWOC was one of remarkable determination. She continued through the NSWOC Program while undergoing treatment for advanced cancer, ultimately completing her studies, preceptorship and the CNA WOCC(C) certification exam despite tremendous challenges along the way.
At the 2023 NSWOCC National Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Norena proudly received her NSWOC Diploma, realizing what she described as her greatest passion and dream. During the graduation ceremony, she was also presented with the Vancouver United Ostomy Association Chapter NSWOC Award, a $1,000 award recognizing a British Columbia NSWOC student or recent graduate who has demonstrated a high degree of volunteerism with, and in support of, people living with an ostomy.
That recognition reflected a commitment to people living with an ostomy that Norena carried with her throughout her practice and her illness. She continued working as an NSWOC for as long as she was able, and when her health eventually prevented her from continuing to work, she continued giving back by volunteering her time to support people living with an ostomy. Even while facing tremendous challenges of her own, her desire to help others remained at the heart of who she was as a nurse and as an NSWOC.
Her Academic Advisors remember a deeply grateful and determined learner who embraced feedback, constantly sought to improve, and worked tirelessly to deepen her knowledge. Her colleagues saw that same dedication in practice and remember the joy she showed when talking about wound, ostomy and continence care.
Norena's dedication continued throughout her illness. She worked as an NSWOC for as long as she was able, and when her health no longer allowed her to continue working, she volunteered her time to support people living with an ostomy.
Norena also deeply valued being part of the broader NSWOC community and the connections she made along the way. In 2025, she shared that a particular highlight for her had been getting her picture taken with one of her heroes, Dr. R. Gary Sibbald—a moment of pure joy that we are honoured to share as part of this tribute, pictured here.
During NSWOC Week 2024, we were privileged to share Norena's remarkable story of resilience, perseverance and triumph with our community. Today, that story gives us an opportunity to remember Norena in her own words and to reflect on the extraordinary journey she undertook to become a WOCC(C)-certified NSWOC.
“Being a patient and certified NSWOC, I believe that having experiences, expertise and advanced knowledge and skills in wound, ostomy and continence care can improve patients’ quality of life, provide the highest quality of care, and reduce the healthcare cost by providing education and teaching to patients, families and other healthcare and nursing staff.”— Norena Gonzales, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C)
On behalf of NSWOCC and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute, we extend our deepest condolences to Norena's family, friends, colleagues and everyone whose life she touched. We also hold close the many members of our NSWOCC family who had the privilege of learning alongside her, teaching her, supporting her and working with her.
Norena worked extraordinarily hard to become an NSWOC. But more importantly, she showed all of us what it meant to be one.
Her passion, perseverance, compassion and joy will remain an inspiration to our community.
With our deepest sympathies,
Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC)
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute
