Norma Evelyn (Desmond) Cairns formerly of Hingham died peacefully at age 83 on February 18th. Daughter of the late Norman and Pearl (Finch) Desmond, Norma grew up in Medford. Active in the West Medford Baptist church and a graduate of Medford High School, Norma attended Burdett Secretarial School. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper in Boston and volunteered with the USO. She met her husband, Irving (Herb) Cairns, at a dance in Center Harbor, NH and they were happily married over 53 years.
While living in Hingham Norma worked for the School Department, and was very involved in the Hingham Congregational Church. Throughout her life she was a caretaker and a friend to all. She worked as an Avon Lady, sold Tupperware and Dutchmaid and was very involved in volunteer activities for school, church, and Camp Fire Girls. For many years she was a caterer in Hingham – preparing nourishing casserole meals for busy families in the 1960s, before that was commonplace. It was well-known that anyone who entered Norma’s home would be fed.
Norma was instrumental in starting the Consignment Center at the Hingham Congregational Church and helped get the Union Church Consignment Center in Weymouth started years later.
Norma & Herb spent over 5 years living in a 27’ travel trailer travelling all over the country finding and visiting Herb’s old Navy buddies, many old friends and family members. After travelling, they settled down at 1000 Southern Artery where both were very active. Norma managed the “White Elephant” and building library for many years. In December they moved to an assisted living apartment in Brighton and have already made good friends.
Norma is survived by her beloved husband, Herb and her daughter, Judi Flaherty of Hingham, grand-daughters Jesseca Flaherty of Benicia California and Kathryn (Kaity) Flaherty and her husband Abraham Egnor of Quincy, son-in-law Michael Flaherty of Vallejo, CA and many cousins, nieces and nephews and a sad parakeet, Charlie.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Friday, March 6th at the Old Ship Church, 90 Main Street in Hingham. All are welcome to the service and the reception following in the church parish hall. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips Street, Elkhart, IN, 46515 www.churchworldservice.org, or to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.