November 3, 1942 – October 25, 2021
Brenda L. (Redfern) Norton, of Reading, passed away on Monday, October 25, 2021. She was 78 years of age.
Brenda was born in Woburn and was the daughter of the late Leonard and Ella (Erwin) Redfern.
In 1962, she married her high school sweetheart Eugene J. “Ed” Norton. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on September 15th. Together they settled in Reading where she was a resident for 70 years.
Brenda lived with MS for 30 years. She endured her illness with courage, resilience, and a remarkably positive attitude. While her disease gradually took away her physical abilities, it never took away her curiosity, kindness, compassion, generosity, and love. Brenda connected personally with each person she met, listening intently to their stories. Her friendships—many lifelong — knew no bounds, and she always put others before herself.
Brenda was the proud daughter, wife, and mother of United States Marines. One of the greatest joys in her life was being Grammy to her little granddaughters Alexa and Jenna. She also cherished her daily phone conversations with her son Bob, and her daily visits with her best friend and neighbor Aleah Smith. She was grateful for simple pleasures in life and truly lived her life, with gratitude, one day at a time. While still able, she loved hosting family dinners and celebrations. She also loved Elvis, Clint Eastwood movies, Tom Selleck, and classic TV from Gunsmoke to The Golden Girls.
Her talents included writing, baking, sewing, cross-stitch and crafts which she enjoyed sharing with family and friends. In later years when her illness became more physically confining, Facebook opened her world to a whole new group of “friends” and gave Brenda a purpose and passion for creating photos, videos, posters and calendars celebrating their birthdays, weddings, vacations and other special occasions. She brought joy to so many people, and they in turn brought joy to her. Friends lovingly dubbed her talents “Brenda Magic.”
Brenda was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
Brenda was the beloved wife of Eugene “Ed” Norton. Cherished mother of Robert Norton and wife Karen, and Michael Norton and wife Rosella. Loving grandmother of Alexa and Jenna Norton. Dear sister of Leonard Redfern and Janis Newcomb. Also survived by a brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert and Margot Norton, Joan Norton and Jennifer Marks, and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Memorial Mass Celebrating Brenda’s Eternal Life at St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill Street, Reading on Friday, November 12th at 10:30 am.
Private interment was held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery at Bourne.
Please consider donations in memory of Brenda to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 and at https://www.stjude.org/.
