Lunenburg – Patricia (Rice) Norton, 74, of Lunenburg, formerly of Billerica and Hudson, died Saturday, Oct 13, 2012 at UMass Health Alliance Leominster Hospital. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Joseph Norton of Lunenburg.
Patricia was born in Manchester, England, daughter of the late John and Kathleen (Faulkner) Rice, and attended local schools in Manchester. She met her husband Joseph while he was stationed in England as a member of the U.S. Air Force, and they were married on April 6, 1957 at Sacred Heart Church of Gorton/Manchester, England.
Patricia and Joseph spent many years residing at several Air Force bases in the United States and England during his service before settling in Billerica. Patricia spent 20 years of service with the Federal Civil Service, working as a Data and Configuration Manager at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford until her retirement in 1996. They have resided in Lunenburg since 2002.
Patricia enjoyed and won many awards and trophies as a member of leagues in ten-pin bowling, local dart leagues and lawn bowling. She was an avid supporter and devoted cheerleader of all her children's pursuits, including football, track, basketball, and supported Little League Baseball as a scorekeeper. She was fondly known as “Mom” as a pitcher on the Billerica Softball Team and will surely be missed by all who knew her.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her five children, Joseph and Crystal Norton of Lunenburg, Jennifer and David LeMay of Sturbridge, Agnes and David Robar of Moultonboro, NH, Kathleen Norton and Kate Sullivan of Lowell, and Margaret and Walter Robar of Billerica. She is also survived by her siblings, Michael and Pauline Rice, Christine and Jim Andrew, Jennifer Ince, Anne Harris; her 10 loving grandchildren, Justin Norton, Kristen Norton, Michael Robar, Tricia Norton, Ashley Robar, Alan LeMay, Joey LeMay, Jared Robar, Riley Robar, Rachel Johnson; her two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Gracie Robar; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Moya Rice.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 9:00 a.m., at Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial services will follow in Saint Michael's Cemetery of Hudson. Family and friends may attend calling hours Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson.