Westfield – Norma Carolyn (White) Gary, 92, of Westfield, MA entered peacefully into eternal rest on October 8, 2016 to be with her husband, Charles B. Gary. Norma was born May 23, 1924 in Pittsfield, Ma to Mary Harlow White and Lewis Verne White. Her childhood years were spent in Cummington, MA surrounded by the love of her six older brothers, Austin, Lewis, Stanley, Eliot, Clifford and Theodore. She attended Cummington Elementary School and beginning at age 11, she played the piano and organ at Cummington Church. She moved to West Springfield, MA and then Westfield, MA., where she attended Westfield High School graduating in 1942. It was there that she met her life-long sweetheart Charles Gary, marrying him on April 5, 1946.
Following high school, she continued her education at the School of Nursing at Western Massachusetts Hospital. Upon graduating, she worked at Springfield Hospital. During WWII, she worked at the Springfield Armory. Soon, her choice of career changed to providing a nourishing environment and practicing her nursing skills on her husband and seven children, George (Peggy), Maryleah (Richard) Skoronski, Martha (Steve) Rheaume, Janet (Michael Miceli), Mark (Pattie), Alvin (deceased) and Annette (Jim) Bemis. During this time, she taught piano to her children and exposed them to a variety of musical genres and instruments and taught piano to community youngsters for over 18 years. Additionally, she was a 4-H leader and taught 4-Hers how to preserve food without additives long before the current organic trend. Norma played organ and piano at the Wyben Community Church, directing musicals for the Sunday School children to participate in.
When her children were grown, she returned to her love of church and classical music by singing in the Methodist Church Choir, First Congregational Church Choir, Westfield Festival Choir, Springfield Symphony Chorus, and the Westfield State College Chorus. Traveling to Europe with the different choruses, she performed in Poland, Germany, France, England and Scotland; she loved performing in several European cathedrals. She was a member of the American Guild of Organists. Norma was also a substitute organist at many area churches. She believed that one should share their talents, playing for area nursing home and traveling to Glastonbury, Ct. to perform at the senior center. “Gram” also played and gave music lessons to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Norma made her home on the family farm in the Wyben section of Westfield for over 70 years. Norma helped her husband Charles run the Charles Gary Bus Company for many years. In later years she was able to maintain her residence there with the assistance of her “Visiting Angels.” Thanks to each of them for the love, compassion and care that they provided which allowed her to remain in the home she loved. Norma leaves behind her six adult children with 6 spouses, 10 grandchildren (Michael, Robert, Charlie, Brenda, Alex, Daniel, Wayne, Lisa, Benjamin, and Barbara) plus 7 great grandchildren (Heather, Jeffery, Caylanne, Maxwell, Joshua, Andrew, and Watson). Norma demonstrated her love for family and music throughout her life. She was always available to assist with childcare for her loving grandchildren. She loved sharing her musical talent with everyone and always had a warm smile to brighten their day.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the First Congregational Church, 18 Broad St. Westfield, MA beginning at 11 a.m. to be followed by a reception in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Norma’s name to the First Congregational Church Music Fund, 18 Broad Street, Westfield, MA 01085.
