Dedicated to the loving memory of Mary NORRIS
This site is a tribute to Mary Helen Norris, a most dearly beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She is much loved by so, so many and will always be remembered. A beautiful lady in body and spirit and a long life lived to the full. She was strongly committed to her beliefs, church and community.
The family would most welcome contributions to this website from all who knew her in one way or another.
Recent Donations
2 years ago
Anonymous
Donation from furthers sales of Mary's Book: 'Beyond Belief'
£30.00
2 years ago
Anonymous
Donation from further sales of Mary's Book: 'Beyond Belief'
£30.00
2 years ago
Michelle and Jeff
Most happy memories of Mary in Norway. She was always willing to try anything new. I always enjoyed listening to her and talking with her . She never grew old but remained young at heart. A dear and valued friend who will not be forgotten.
£25.00
Contribute
Help grow Mary's Tribute by adding messages or memories you'd like to share.
![Mary's mother, Agnes May Parker (nee Hooton), [1898 to 1999], possibly taken in 1919](https://images.muchloved.com/s3/tributes.muchloved.com/9/29/829/649572829/images/0649764018.jpg?t=637810178900100000)
Thoughts
About 35 years ago I used to have piano lessons with Mary. I remember her picking me up in her little white car and I think even back then I was aware that she didn’t really like driving, and it was always a relief for her to get back home. I wasn’t very good at the piano but she was incredibly patient with me. I never really got the hang of playing with two hands but there was just one piece that she taught me which I mastered and I have never forgotten, so I’m going to play that in a minute.
I just want to say how lucky I feel to have had an Aunt like Mary in my life for so many years. She was so easy to talk to, I always loved to see her.
There are so many things I admired about her. She had a long and happy marriage and managed to stay strong after losing her beloved Norman. She and Norman used to have some great parties and were always brilliant hosts. They were so good at including everyone and putting people at ease and I remember playing some really funny party games. There was one I remember which involved putting your nose through a hole in a sheet and everyone else had to guess whose nose it was.
Mary always kept in touch with a wide circle of friends, and family was very important to her. She invested a lot of time in other people and was always interested in others and what they had to say.
She was always so active and independent, it was easy to forget her age. She always had things she wanted to achieve, and I was so pleased to be able to help her put her booklet together last year. Writing the booklet in her 90s was a remarkable achievement. She was so well read and well informed and I’m so pleased she got to finish the booklet. She invited me, Brian and Patricia for lunch last October to say thank you for our help with the booklet, and cooked us a lovely 3 course meal. She was a brilliant cook and that day I had her famous cheese quiche and Victoria sponge.
I could go on, but I’m going to end by saying, children always loved Mary and Norman because they were so good with them, and I’m so glad Archie got to know his Great Aunt and Uncle.
Written by Sarah Goodwin for the celebration of Mary’s life on 28th May 2022
Sarah
1st June 2022
Something I meant to share at Mum's Life Celebration on Saturday when so, so many of her friends, some who she had known for many, many decades, were able to be with:
There was a poem that I found after Mum's passing, with the book that every year she religiously wrote down whom she had sent a Christmas Card to and whom she had received one back from. I never understood this - duty - is the best word to describe the task, as it is one she quite frankly dreaded having to sit down and do but one task that was essential to her .... until I read this poem:
CHRISTMAS CARDS
There is a list of friends I know
All written in a book.
And every year at Christmastime
I'll go and take a look.
and that is when I realise that
These names are all a part,
For each name stands for someone
Who has touched my life sometime,
And in that meeting they've become
The "Rhythm of the Rhyme".
I really feel I am so blessed
By each remembered name,
As my life is so much better
Than it was before they came.
So never think my Christmas cards
Are just a mere routine
Of simply names upon a list
forgotten in between.
For when I send a Christmas card
That is addressed to you
It is because you're on that list
Of folks I'm indebted to.
And whether I have known you
For many years or few;
In some way you have had a part
In shaping things I do.
So every year when Christmas comes
I realise anew
The biggest gift that God can give
is knowing friends like you.
Adrian
30th May 2022
I hope this sounds familiar ..... because we were all school children one upon a time. And we all know, when you've got a school friend, the scariest thing is meeting their Mum and Dad for the first time. I mean, they're Grown Ups. And from another planet.
But it's not at all scary if your school friend happens to be Adrian - and his parents Mary and Norman. Need I say more?
Mary's unconditional kindness and generosity meant that I felt immediately and overwhelmingly at home. Indeed, I wouldn't have minded having her as my Mum. What a remarkable thing to say, but it does say a lot about her capacity to love newcomers and to care about others - and the world around her.
As we know, Mary was passionate about the important things in life. And I don't mean only ensuring that visitors were well fed and watered. She did that brilliantly.
Quite how she kept up the warm welcome when scores of young people dressed up as Stat wars characters were lounging around the house and eating and drinking everything in sight remains a mystery to me. That was a great birthday party Adrian!
And perhaps the real reason why you have a band of lifelong friends - and many of us here are fortunate to call you our friend - is because the character in you that first marked you out at school as a friend for life was of course forged in a loving family that had your magnificent Mum and Dad at its head. And don't we wish the same for more families in this country today.
After all, it makes it a lot less scary for school friends!
To Mary - Rest In Peace.
Robert Cunningham - written for the occasion of the Life Celebration of Mary on 28th May 2022
