Norma F. Branch

Norma Forsyth Branch, 87, died on March 9th, 2012, after a long, courageous battle with osteoporosis and coronary heart disease. Norma was a lifelong resident of Waterford who grew up on the family’s small farm on the Boston Post Road with parents Nina Elliott Forsyth, LeRoy Forsyth, and grandmother Sarah Hanney Forsyth.

In 1947, Norma married Robert O. Branch of Willimantic, her loving companion of 64 years. They had three daughters, Holly, Diana and Vickie. A lifelong accomplishment was creating a home filled with warmth and love, adorned with her own original paintings and a yard with beautiful landscaping and gardens. She had a unique way of letting friends and family know that they were the center of her world.

Norma attended Jordan Elementary School and graduated with the Williams Memorial Institute class of 1942. She enjoyed telling stories about her life at Beaver College where she studied music and art for two years. Norma was an accomplished artist and vocalist, performing as soloist at churches, weddings, and in local theatrical productions. She served as director of the children’s choir at the Second Congregational Church in New London, and music director for the Presbyterian Church in Waterford.

Norma was an active member of the community, serving with Music for Children and on the Waterford Board of Education and RTM. She was a member of the Rake and Trowel and New London garden clubs and loved the challenge of competitive flower arranging. Norma enjoyed Touch and Go, a group of local musicians who met in each other’s homes to perform and share performance techniques. She worked at the Waterford Public Library, and enjoyed gathering to discuss great books with her Tuesday Club. Most of all, she loved monthly get-togethers with her bridge club.

“Normie” is survived by husband Bob, daughter Holly Frederick & her husband Ric, daughter Diana McMasters and her husband Paul, daughter Vickie Branch and her partner Leslie Williams, and grandchildren Kyle Davis Frederick, Christopher Robin McMasters, and Kelsey Forsyth McMasters, all of whom she was so very proud.

The family would like to acknowledge years of extraordinary care by best friend Betty Pinson, Mary Ruddlesden, and the nurses and therapists of the Rehabilitation Department at L&M Hospital.

In honor of strong women everywhere including Margie, Vickie, Debbie, Judy, Wendy, and Lorri, donations can be made in her memory to the Terry Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation http://terribrodeurbreastcancerfoundation.org/.

A summer memorial service is being planned. Arrangements will be announced.