Norma Dempsey

Norma Elizabeth Strait Dempsey, 87, of Green Bay, WI, died Saturday, June 4th after an extended illness. Norma was born to the late Michael and Minna Strait on April 18, 1924, in Danbury, CT. She was the youngest of five children. Her father was superintendent of a county facility/farm for the indigent during the depression. She had many pleasant memories of the farm and caring for the residents. Norma graduated from Danbury High School, in Danbury, CT and Becker College in Worcester, MA. Upon graduation, she worked in medical records and transcription at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA, where she met her future husband upon his return from the Pacific in WWII. She married Richard C. Dempsey on April 24, 1948 in Danbury, CT. They moved to New York City where she worked in medical records at Lenox Hill hospital. Richard and Norma moved to Allouez, WI in 1963 from Delmar, NY for Richard’s job. Norma was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church of Allouez. She served as a director and secretary/treasurer of the altar guild. She belonged to the Green Bay/De Pere Antiquarian Society, and was active with the American Red Cross blood drives and the YWCA. She also enjoyed a Neighborly Dance Club and bridge card club. Her interests included gardening, cooking/baking, painting, traveling, cross-word puzzles and interior design (making her family’s house a real home!). She devoted much of her time and energy to her family and home. Norma will always be remembered as a loving, compassionate, kind, cheerful, elegant person who was always gracious and selfless. Her family and friends meant the world to her, as she did to them. She was deeply loved and a true blessing to her family and friends. She will be dearly missed. Norma is survived by her two children: Deborah (Jerry) Kapphahn, of Green Bay and Kevin (Michelle) Dempsey, of Centennial, Colorado. She also is survived by five grandchildren: Kara (Jason) Macklin, Amanda (Sean) Stagg, Jennifer (Will) French, Richard M. Dempsey and Micaela Dempsey and many special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and family friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers Dick and Bob and sisters Dorothy and Irene. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Allouez (2335 South Webster Avenue). A visitation will take place prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m., and a luncheon will follow the service at the church. A private interment service for the family will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery following the luncheon. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.hansenfuneralservice.com. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Norma’s name to one or more of the following charities: Jack and Engrid Meng Unity Hospice Residence, Bellin Health Cancer Center, Alzheimer’s Association or Faith Lutheran Church. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Jack and Engrid Meng Unity Hospice Residence, Marla Vista Gardens Memory Care, Bellin Memorial Hospital and the Bellin Health Cancer Center for their compassionate care.

Norma Dempsey

April 18, 1924 - June 4, 2011