Michele (Lozet) Norton, 89, of Tewksbury, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Aspen Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Haverhill, with her family at her side, after enduring Alzheimer’s disease for nearly 15 years. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert Thomas Norton, with whom she shared 54 years of marriage before his passing on May 11, 2020.
Born in Paris, France, on October 16, 1937, Michele was the daughter of the late Camille Lozet and the late Anne (Whelan) LeChenadec. She grew up in Caudrot, a small village in France, where she lived until the age of 14, when she moved to Paris. After completing her education in Paris, she went to the United Kingdom to work as an au pair, and there she learned English. She later returned to Paris and worked as a telephone operator for the United States Army.
It was there that she met Robert, who was stationed in Paris with the Army. Shortly after his discharge, Michele left France and came to the United States to be closer to him, and the two were married on September 4, 1965. They began their family in Somerville before settling in South Tewksbury in 1972.
In the United States, Michele worked for many years as a secretary and administrative assistant, first at Sweetheart Plastics and Compugraphic in Wilmington, and later at Addison-Wesley Publishers in Reading. She also earned her associate degree in medical terminology from Northern Essex Community College. She went on to serve as the secretary of the Tewksbury United Methodist Church until her retirement. Her church was a central part of her life well beyond her work there, and she generously volunteered much of her time to it. She was especially devoted to the Martha Mary Circle, whose members put together care packages for those in need and enjoyed traveling together.
Michele was a wonderful cook and a devoted gardener who took great pride in growing her own vegetables for the kitchen, along with beautiful flowers. She loved animals, nature, and the outdoors, and she was also an Avon lady. An avid yard saler, she spent every Saturday morning traveling to yard sales with her friend, and the two never came home empty-handed. Above all, she was a loving grandmother who cherished her family.
She is survived by her daughters, Catherine Peirce and her husband John of Tewksbury, and Lisa Marden of Amesbury; her grandchildren, Tom Peirce, Erica Peirce, Alex Norton, Danielle Norton, Nicholas Marden, Colette Norton, and Ellie Marden; her sisters, Jocelyne Figues of France, and Claudine Remondin and her husband Marc of France; her nieces and nephews, Francois Lozet, Florence Lozet, Isabelle Lozet, Bertrand Remondin, and Sylvie Menut; and several great nieces and nephews in France. She also leaves her longtime friends at the Tewksbury United Methodist Church. Throughout her life, Michele was always surrounded by close friends, and she leaves several dear friends as well. She was predeceased by her son, Stephen Norton; her grandson, Troy Marden; her brother, Pierre Lozet and his wife Jocelyne; and many cherished friends and neighbors.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to pay their respects on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Tewksbury United Methodist Church, 2335 Main St, Tewksbury, MA. Her funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the church. Burial will follow at Saint Mary Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Michele Norton may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org, or to Guardian Angels Cat Rescue at www.guardianangelscatrescue.org. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Tewksbury Funeral Home.