Avis de décès de Norma L. Harris - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

ASHFIELD - Norma Louise (Day) Harris, 88, died on Sept. 8, 2014, at home from complications of dementia.She was born in Northampton, May 17, 1926, the first of three children to Theodore Pease and Mildred Wing (Howes) Day of Ashfield.As a very young child, Norma had a view of Main Street where she enjoyed watching and conversing with patrons (by name) of Mr. Henry's general store where her father worked and over which her family lived until she was 9.She attended one-room school houses in Ashfield. She was a 1944 graduate of Sanderson Academy and a 1946 graduate of the former Nursery Training School of Boston. She was a preschool teacher in Woodstock, CT, Lunenburg and West Townsend. She also worked for Dunn and Bradstreet in Springfield.Norma was married to Robert Arthur Harris on May 1, 1949 in Ashfield. They resided in Agawam when their first two sons were born. The family moved to the former John Ellis homestead on Bellows Hill in Ashfield in 1954. There Robert began his own dairy farming career after an association with Frank and William Gray on their farm nearby. Norma tended her family and a large vegetable garden. She also steered stuck trucks as they were pulled out of muddy situations. She kept a freezer full of meats, vegetables and fruits. Her pies, jams and breads were gladly consumed by the family and many guests at her table. In 1958-59 Norma taught at the Retarded Child Nursery School in Greenfield. In 1959, she gave birth to a third son and in 1964 to a daughter.Norma, a member of the First Congregational Church, taught church school. Always interested in history, Norma founded the Ashfield Historical Society in 1959. She was its first president and was curator for its first 25 years. She took seminars, catalogued museum articles, worked on historic interpretation, and was often responsible for training volunteers. She was cataloguer for the computer indexing of the Howes Brothers' Photographic Project which contains thousands of glass plate negatives. She created special exhibits at the museum and at Town Hall for fund-raising events. She organized tours to historic sites and buildings and was active in Ashfield Bicentennial Committees.When Robert's heart condition forced him to leave farming in 1966, the family moved to the village where he died in 1969. Norma taught at her own South Street Nursery School from 1970-77. She also used a portion of her house for a summer rental, having had some success renting space at the farm for farm vacations. During the 1980s, Norma worked for the Ashfield Historical Commission compiling the town's historical buildings and area survey, essential information which led to National Register for Historic Places status for Ashfield.Norma's desire to learn about people and places led her to solo across the U.S. in her bright VW camper and visit her daughter at college in New Mexico. She and close friend, Kenneth Darling, camped, canoed, fished and explored much of northern New England and enjoyed its people. After Ken's death, Norma and Gladys Cranmore, each fulfilling dreams of owning motor homes, took trips near and far in their 27-foot houses on wheels. The longest was with Norma's cousin to Nova Scotia.As she began to experience the harsher realities of her disease, Norma learned of and began to spread the story of Sojourner Truth. Over the decades, Norma educated many children and adults. She enjoyed her flower beds, books, her historic homes, wonderful sunsets and backyard wildlife. She also cared deeply about her good neighbors, family, friends and the Town of Ashfield where she spent most of her life.Survivors include three sons: Neal (Helen), Stuart, Roger (Betty), and son-in-law Julius; five grandchildren: Phillip (Rebecca), Heather, Matthew, Aisha and Julia, and two great grandchildren: Olivia and Samantha. She has many cousins, nieces and nephews. Norma was predeceased by her husband, parents, brothers, daughter Sara, and close friend Kenneth. She will be missed and remembered.Services will be held on Monday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Ashfield. A reception in Friendship Hall will follow. Burial will be private. Johnson's Funeral Home of Shelburne Falls is handling arrangements.Memorial contributions in Norma's name may be made to the Ashfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 277, Ashfield, MA 01330, or the ;(function() { var adKeyValue = 't='; adKeyValue+= escape('clio=COYCACS'); adKeyValue += escape('&cobrand=recorder'); adKeyValue += escape('&linktext=charity of the donor\'s choice'); adKeyValue += escape('&linkurl=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/recorder/condolences-charities.aspx?keyword=coycacs&pid=172401416'); adKeyValue += escape('&fn=Norma'); adKeyValue += escape('&ln=Harris'); var adClkUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1324902843'; var adImpUrl = 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=/423686928/prod/obit-aff/obit-standard/clio-inline-1&' + adKeyValue + '&sz=1x1&c=1324902843'; document.write("charity of the donor\'s choice"); }()); .The family wishes to thank all of Norma's caregivers during the past many years: Donna, Robin, both Brendas, Linda, Nancy, Tori, Patricia, Barbara and Jodi. Their expertise and sensitivity has fostered a good life for Norma and her family. The local hospital's staff, the 911 system, ambulance personal, fire department (especially Del), associates of Valley Medical Group and Hospice of Franklin County have been very supportive. Norma's Dr. Megan Gump in particular and Dr Richard Warner have taken a valued interest in Norma's well-being. Other acquaintances have also improved the lives of the family during Norma's illness.