Marie Norberta O'Connell Jerome

WINDHAM — Marie Norberta O’Connell Jerome, 93, died peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, at the Gosnell Hospice House with her loving family by her side.

She was born in Portland on July 5, 1922, a daughter of the late William Norbert Sr. and Mary Frances (Earls) O’Connell. She grew up in her beloved St. Patrick’s Parish in the Libbytown section of Portland, and she graduated from St. Patrick’s School and Cathedral High School. Shortly thereafter, she proudly served her country as a WAVE during World War II and worked for the Navy in Washington, D.C.

During the war, she met her future husband, LaVern Joseph “Jerry” Jerome. They were married in Washington, D.C., on June 19, 1944. After the war, they raised six children in Portland. While raising her children, she also worked as a telephone operator for the phone company.

They worked hard to provide their children with postsecondary educations. In later years, they built a retirement home at Presumpscott Cove in Windham. This became a site for many family gatherings and wonderful shared memories. Norberta’s interest included her Irish heritage and her husband's roots in North Dakota, art, literature, world geography and culture, music, theatre and books of all kinds.

She will be remembered as a kind and gracious soul who always put others first. She was a devoted Catholic and St. Patrick’s parishioner.

Her life revolved around her family, which has been comforted by countless enduring memories, including her show-stopping high kicks/toe touches, wading into “The Lake” sporting navy blue Keds, and her chocolate peanut butter fudge that you had to eat with a spoon.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband, LaVern; a sister, Patricia “Titi” O’Connell; brothers, Joseph S. O’Connell, and William N. O’Connell Jr.; a great-grandson; four daughters, Ann Marie McLaughlin of Standish, Nancy Boduch of North Hampton, N.H., Margaret Kane of South Portland and Regina Jerome of Melrose, Mass.: two sons, Stephen Jerome of Raymond and Christopher Jerome of Falmouth; 19 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces nephews; and other loving family members.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, at 10:15 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland.

To visit Norberta’s memorial page or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.ctcrawford.com

If desired, donations in her name may be made to: The Maine Veterans’ Home Resident Activity Program, 290 Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.