Obituary of Joan F. Norton

Joan F. Norton, 75, of Delmar, died peacefully at home on September 22, 2023 after a long illness. Joan Frances Lynch was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, daughter of the late Lillian Y. and James J. Lynch on December 3, 1947. She grew up and attended schools in Dorchester and graduated from Boston Business School. She met the love of her life and husband of 41 years, Bud Norton, at work. Their first date was to Fenway Park to cheer on the Boston Red Sox. They married in 1969 and started their family. After their move from Boston to Delmar, Joan met lifelong friends through her participation in community, church and kids activities, as well as through her career. She enjoyed work at the Bethlehem Public Library for many years and at the NYS Education Department in Human Resources for more than 30 years until her retirement in 2017.

Joan held a special place in her heart for Humarock, Massachusetts where her father built a house for his family outside of the city and close to the beach. She and her siblings, their children and grandchildren spent wonderful times making lasting memories there.

To know Joan was to know true kindness. She lived her life always thinking of others and was a wholeheartedly generous and genuine person.  She delighted in her grandchildren, showering them with love and always finding fun new ways to spend quality “Grammie” time with each of them.

Throughout Joan’s illness, she was loved, cared for and comforted by her wonderful caregivers and friends, Lameda, Darlene and Pam. The family extends special thanks to such amazing angels who came into Joan’s life to give her the gift of incredible companionship and care.

Joan is predeceased by her parents, her sister Lillian Lynch, and her husband Russell (Bud) Norton. She is survived by her children Susan Zumberge (Niles) of Waterbury, VT, Christopher Norton (Lisa) of Delmar, and Elizabeth Skrobela (John) of Albany; and her cherished grandchildren Emma and Jack Norton, Noah Zumberge, and Leo and Luther Skrobela. She is also survived by her siblings James Lynch (Sandy), Nancy Holloway (Bill) and Maureen Harbour (Larry); in-laws Ed Norton, Jennifer Marks-Norton, and Bob and Margot Norton; as well as many treasured nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Place, Delmar. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Joan’s name to Road to Responsibility https://roadtoresponsibility.org/ or to the Bethlehem Public Library https://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/.