Mrs. Vera Mae ‘Rose’ Norris, of Niles
Aug. 27, 1931 — June 1, 2019
Niles Daily Star, Published 7:33 am Friday, June 7, 2019
Aug. 27, 1931 — June 1, 2019
Mrs. Vera Mae “Rose” Norris, 87, of Niles, passed away at 5:50 p.m. on June 1, 2019, with family gathered around her at Brentwood Assisted Living of Niles, following an extended illness.
She was born on Aug. 27, 1931, in Buchanan Township, to Martin and Katherine (Thierbach) Altergott.
She graduated from Central High School in South Bend; however, attended Buchanan High School prior to that. She was first employed at S.S. Kresge’s Dime Store in downtown South Bend. After graduating she worked at Electro-Voice in Buchanan for 18 years, retiring in 1967. She was then a homemaker and worked part-time at the former Ned’s Meat Processing in Niles.
Rose was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, the Moose Lodge Auxiliary #449 in Buchanan, the What-so-Ever group at the First Presbyterian Church. Rose and Francis were snowbirds, traveling to Lakeland, Florida every winter where she enjoyed playing bingo, shuffleboard, was a “Red Hatter” and meeting and making many new friends which last her lifetime. Rose liked to go to the casinos. She was an avid reader and enjoyed to cross stitch, do needle work, and crochet. She crocheted many dishcloths, doilies, and hats. She donated the hats to various charities and the Niles Community Schools for those in need. But, her greatest joy was her family.
- Mrs. Vera Mae “Rose” Norris
On Jan. 9, 1954, in the First Presbyterian Church, in Niles, she married Francis Lee Norris who preceded her in death in 2016. Together they celebrated 62 years of marriage and had three children.
Surviving family includes their children Gary L. (Marian LaBo) Norris, Nancy (Jerry Pollay) Lowery-Pollay, and Scott Norris, all of Niles; grandchildren, Shaun (Carly) Norris, of Niles, and Mikael (Seven Kelly) Norris, of Hockley, Texas; great-grandchildren, Marshall Wismer, Ava Hoskins, and Finn Norris; god-daughter, Jamie Janke of Niles; brothers, Rienholdt “Curly” Altergott and Elmer R. Altergott, both of Niles; sister-in-law, Sandra Altergott-Raber, of Niles; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; Francis’s parents, Dick and Bertha Norris; a son-in-law, Mahlon L. Lowery; and brothers, Ruben, Fred, and Larry Altergott.
The family would also like to extend a heartfelt “THANK-YOU” to the entire staff at Brentwood Assisted Living for all their exceptional care, support and Love they gave our mother while she resided there for the last 2 1/2 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brentwood Assisted Living of Niles, First Presbyterian Church, of Niles, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
A memorial service will be at noon on Monday, June 10, 2019, in Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., Niles, where family and friends may gather two hours prior to the Service. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Condolences for the family may be made at halbritterwickens.com.