Westfield – Norma (Nareau) Hill, 78, (1938-2016) of Westfield, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, November 19, 2016. She will be dearly missed by Warren, her husband of 57 years. She was born in Keene, NH on April 20, 1938 to Emily and Robert Nareau, and resided in Westfield for the past 46 years. In addition to her husband, she is survived by 3 daughters and their husbands; Nicole & Jeff Smith of Huntington, MA, Kimberlee & SteveWezniak of Carlsbad, CA, and Michelle & Ryan Perham of Seattle, WA, and 6 grandchildren; Bonnie McGilpin of Boston, MA, Julie McGilpin of Burlington, VT, Colleen McGilpin of Washington, D.C., Matthew and Samuel Wezniak of Carlsbad, CA, and Emily Perham of Seattle, WA.She also leaves 2 sisters, Shirley Bartas and Frances Derby, both of Keene, NH, a brother Franklin Nareau of Mesa, AZ, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother Robert and sister Pauline.After graduating from Keene High School in 1956, she was employed by the National Grange Insurance Company and, later by Markem Machine Company, both of Keene. She moved to Westfield in 1970 when her husband joined the faculty at Westfield State College. During the 70’s and 80’s she earned her Massachusetts Realtor License, and worked as a sales representative for a National Educational Materials Company. She served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Greater Westfield American Red Cross and was one of the founding members of the Westfield Homeless Shelter. Norma was very active in the political arena. In the 1990’s she volunteered and worked on the campaigns of many Municipal, State, and Federal candidates. In 1992, she was elected as Chair of the Westfield Democratic City Committee. In 2000, Norma and her husband shared the title, “Westfield Democrats of the Year”, bestowed on them by the City Committee. She represented the City of Westfield as a delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s annual conventions for 24 years. In 1996, Norma was elected to a 4-year term on the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee representing the 2nd Hampden & Hampshire Senatorial District. She was re-elected to 4 additional terms and became a life time member of the Committee in 2016. On the national level, Norma was elected as a Clinton delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, representing the Massachusetts 1st Congressional District. She attended the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where her husband was a Gore delegate and was a Massachusetts volunteer for the 2004 National Convention in Boston. Calling hours will held at the Firtion Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA on Saturday, November 26, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service.In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to Mercy Hospice, Suite 3, 2112 Riverdale St., West Springfield. MA 01089 or the Westfield Food Pantry, 95 Meadow Street, Westfield, MA 01085
