Norma Mae (Powers), 78, a longtime resident of Whitman, died Wednesday night July 23 at the Caritas Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, after multiple complications of her heart, lungs and single kidney. She required one kidney be removed back in 1961.
Born in Brockton in 1930, she was the daughter of the late William B. and Ruth (Griswald) Powers. Her father was a longtime realtor and builder/developer in Whitman. Her grandfather was a founder of Billtown England in (1863), who served for Queen Victoria in Parliament. There was also a Billtown, Nova Scotia where William B. originated from to the United States.
Norma spent her childhood years in Whitman, MA and also in the Walpole and Alstead areas of N.H. with two sisters and three brothers. At age fourteen(photo above) in 1944, Norma M. Powers attended Northfield Seminary for girls and graduated in later years from Vilas High School, Alstead, NH. In her later teen years, she was the runner up for the title of Miss New Hampshire.
In May 1949, Norma married Richard M. Rhoades (formerly of New Hampshire) and they settled in Whitman. While her husband was very active as chief accountant for Cambridge Electric Light and Steam Corporation (1948-59) and as business administrator for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (T.A.B.C.O.M.), Norma was a compassionate homemaker and mother of two daughters, Donna Jane (1951) and Dianne Marie (1953. Her multitude of interests, involved her taking several years of college courses at nearby Bridgewater State College in psychology and in economics. She also took on part-time positions working in retail sales (gift shop) and was a hostess at the landmark “Toll House” for Ruth Wakefield.
Norma enjoyed caring for her animals, her yard/flower gardens , and her home. She had a God-given visual artistic talent for design and decorating and was also a creative writer. Even as a young woman, Norma was very uniquely stylish, with an eye for high quality and the finer things in life. She did a lot of daily reading and studying on her own in the areas of: business trends, international economics, fashion, architecture/remodeling and religion. Norma, husband Richard and daughters were active members of the First Baptist church of Whitman and she served on many community boards.
Overall, Norma devoted the majority of her motherly love and energy to the unique care and safe upbringing of her special needs daughter, Dianne who was born with challenges of mental retardation and congenital heart differences. Dianne was cared for mostly at home and attended Cardinal Cushing School in Hanover , MA (formerly St. Coletta School) for several years in the early 1960’s, coming home each weekend with the family.
Norma is survived by her two daughters, Donna and Dianne Rhoades of Martha’s Vineyard, MA, her sister, Marilyn Davis of Chester, NH, her brother Calvin Powers of Winterhaven, Florida and brother-in-law Ernest William Rhoades and his wife Jean of Alstead Center , NH.; also she has many loving nieces and nephews. Her husband Richard, pre-deceased her only eight months ago.(November 2007).
Family and friends are kindly invited to her Homecoming Celebration on Thursday July 31st. Calling hours are from 6:00-8:00PM. & Friday August 1st, from 10:00-11:00AM, followed by funeral service at 11:00AM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rt 58 at the Rotary circle) Whitman, MA. Internment will follow in the Mt Zion Cemetery, Washington St., Whitman, MA 02382.