Obituary: Elisabeth 'Betty' Norden

The following is from DeVito Funeral Home.

Elisabeth “Betty” Allison (Dungan) Norden left this world on Friday, March 7, 2014 in time to have lunch with St. Peter.

Betty was born on Jan. 21, 1922 to the late Helen Elizabeth (McLean) and Edmund Thomas Dungan. She grew up in her beloved Newton and attended St. Bernard’s School and graduated from Newton High School in 1939. She then attended LaSalle Junior College and upon graduation married Carl E. Norden and went with him to California as he served in the Army.

While in high school and on college vacations, Betty worked at the Ration Board in Newton City Hall, a position she loved. She held the same position at the Vallejo City Hall in California during her stay there. Betty and Carl bought a home in Arlington in 1950 and resided there the rest of their lives.

Betty was gifted artist, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and a wife. Betty was a loyal, dedicated, longtime and caring friend. She spent countless hours visiting those infirmed or in nursing homes. For several years, she served on the board of the Arlington Boys’ Club Boosterettes always urging the club to become a boys’ and a girls’ club. She delivered “Meals on Wheels” for over 26 years, never accepting a penny. Our mother was a devout Catholic saying her rosary twice a day until her recent illness.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Carl, in 2008 and by her infant daughter, Deveney Anne Norden, in 1946. Betty leaves behind her three beloved children: her son, Eric D. Norden, her daughter, Deveney Regina and her husband, James Aram Boyadjian, her son, Curtis Alan Norden and his partner, Kurt Albrand. She leaves behind her three beloved grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel McLean Reis and his wife, Carolyn (CJ), Joshua Mulhern Reis and his wife, Mallory, and Sarah Kehoe Dungan Reis and her husband, Michael Waite. Great-grandchildren Alex, Lily, Landon, Noah, Trinity Rose and Hunter will miss their Grand-Nana. She also leaves behind her cousin, Sally McMurphy, and members of the McLean Family of Newton.

Our family wants to thank the skilled and compassionate people from Good Shepherd Community Hospice of Newton: CNA Melody, Nurse Mary and Social Worker Robert. We also want to extend our sincere thanks to my mother’s doctor, Geraldine Zabik, M.D., for all the loving care, concern and compassion she extended to our mother and to our family over the years.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours at the DeVito Funeral Home, 1145 Mass. Ave., Arlington, on Monday, March 10, from 4-8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Eulalia’s Church, 50 Ridge St., Winchester, on Tuesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Newton Cemetery. Donations in Betty’s name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021, www.SalvationArmyMA.org.