Obituary of Norma Carol White

Norma Carol White (nee Brown) Norma White passed away very peacefully, surrounded by so much love on the afternoon of Friday, May, 27, 2022. Born in Barry, Massachusetts on December 9, 1928, Norma lived most of her life throughout New Jersey from Newark to Bradley Beach, Nutley, Tennent, Union, Wayne and Clifton. Some of her early retirement years were spent in Bushkill Falls, PA, before finally settling in Port Charlotte, FL. Norma is back home now with her Mama, Pluma Knowe and Papa Joseph Brown and all 10 of her older siblings Millicent Piens, Alan Brown, Mildred Palmquist, Arthur Brown, Doris Story, Pluma Yunker, Gloria Zulla and Challena Perna, including her sisters, Flora and Madeline Brown whom had passed before Norma was even born and all of whom she spoke of frequently. Norma had many “babies” as she called them, and she treasured each and every one of them. She was first widowed by Richard W. Edsell and predeceased by their 2nd born son, Kenneth W. Edsell. They also had an elder son, Richard Edsell. She was a Grammy to Dara Sacripanti, Stacy Sibilia, Kendra Martin, Richard J. Edsell and Shannon Abbatiello; a Great Grammy to Alissa, Joseph, Matthew, Kierstin, Caroline, Sierra, Kaia, Dane and Jomaris; and a Great Grammy Great to Dakota, Olivia, Owen, Steel, Nico and Haisley. In addition to her own children, Norma was very proud of her role as matriarch to so many nieces and nephews. She also had many friends, some so precious that they became family. Norma worked many jobs throughout her life including lamp shade painter and waitress, but most notably as a Sales Manager for a swimming pool company. Physical fitness was very important to Norma. She ran track in high school, loved to roller skate and took up playing tennis prior to retirement and loved watching all the professional matches too. She also frequently danced with her second husband, Malcom A. White before he passed away. She even won a Grandma Bathing Beauty contest that she was very pleased with. More recently she challenged herself and reached her goal to walk across the 1 mile bridge span over Charlotte Harbor for her 92nd birthday and she did it without assistance. Although she made it only about halfway on her 93rd she looked very forward to doing it again this year. Norma also had an incredibly beautiful voice which earned her the nickname Judy, after the famed Garland of her day. Her singing helped shape her own children’s musical influences. They would ask her to sing for them just about every single time they saw her because it truly was the family’s favorite pastime, a tradition she passed down. The songs she taught them from her childhood are priceless and in turn kept her grounded to her own humble roots. She absolutely enjoyed time with her family more than anything. She also had fantastic style and loved the simple things in life like animals, especially kitty cats and anything kitty cat related. The color yellow, orchids and butterflies were some of her other favorites. She was fond of her extensive doll collection and really enjoyed all of her little knick knacks of frogs, turtles, mermaid, mermen and other sea life. Norma had an undeniably warm, sweet and beautiful spirit. She was a sparkling light while in this world who taught to love no matter what. Whether you were family, friend or stranger, you couldn’t help but love Norma back because she so genuinely wanted everyone to be happy. She was the rarest kind of gem that a human can be. The amount of visitors, calls, texts and video chats she received from loved ones far and near was a true testament to all the love that she shared. Her last days were spent amongst some of her dearest loved ones, listening to her beloved big band songs overlooking her favorite view from the lanai at her waterfront home. She reminisced about a life well lived and how lucky she was to have received the love that she did throughout her lifetime. A plan was made, with Norma’s blessing, for her loved ones to “walk the bridge” in her honor in 2022. Even further proof perhaps, that her legacy of love will live on might have been that her very last breath was taken as Judy Garland’s song Somewhere Over The Rainbow was playing. Norma’s bright beautiful soul will remain shining on us all for eternity. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you be kind, share your love purely, and be together with your loved ones as much as you can.