Mary Norris

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Daily Press
November 26, 2009

MARY WERNER NORRIS

Mary W. Norris, 90, died at the Chesapeake Retirement Community.

She was born Aug. 18, 1919, in Washington D.C., the only daughter of George Philip and Lorena Caroline Werner. She graduated from Wilson Teacher’s College in 1941, and worked as a secretary for the FBI, before marrying her college sweetheart, John Stevens Norris.

Mary taught school in the Washington D.C. school district until starting her family. They lived in Alexandria, Va., for most of their married life, where they raised their six children and were members of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Community.

Mary enjoyed traveling the world with her husband. They were fortunate to be able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 1992, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed celebrating her 90th birthday with her family and friends. Mary and her husband, Jack, moved to Newport News in 1933. Mary was an active member of the Mount Carmel Community.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years; her parents; and her two brothers, Philip and Charles Werner.

Mary is survived by her six children and their spouses, Lynn and Ron Harkless of Cape Carteret, N.C., Ann and Walter Segaloff of Smithfield, Donna and Jerry Green of Roanoke, John S. Jr. and Carol Norris of Virginia Beach, Stephen P. and Mary Norris of Gaithersburg, Md., and Kathy and Tom Hammond of Falls Church. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, Andy Harkless, Rick, Megan and Christopher Robinson, Shannon McGuire, Natalie and Eve Green, Chloe and Jake Norris, Christine Stevenson, Steve, Michelle and Patrick Norris, and Caitlin, Jack, Caroline and Will Hammond. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Demi Flanigan, Malaina Mutter, Cody and Colton McGuire; by a sister-in-law, Christiane Norris; and by two grandsons-in-law, Josh McGuire and Mark Stevenson.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of the Chesapeake Retirement Community and to Drs. Travers Edwards and Bruce Booth, for their very special care and love that they gave during Mrs. Norris’s illness.

A visitation will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m., with Father Kenneth Wood officiating. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Chesapeake Employment Christmas Fund, 955 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601, or to The American Heart Association-Mid Atlantic Affiliate, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.