Norma R. Finley

Funeral services for Norma R. Finley, age 91 of Ogdensburg will be held on Tuesday (October 17, 2023) at 3:00pm at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Ladouceur officiating. Entombment will follow at the Oswegatchie Mausoleum (Foxwood).

Calling hours will be held also on Tuesday from 12:00 to 3:00pm at the funeral home. Norma passed away on Tuesday (October 10, 2023) at the Canton Potsdam Hospital with her son by her side.

Surviving is her son Russell Finley & his companion Jessica McBath of Lisbon; a sister Katheryn McCamish of Maryland; along with many nieces, nephews & cousins.

She was born on March 24, 1932 in Heuvelton, a daughter of the late Lee & Mabel Holmes Finley. She graduated from Heuvelton Central School in 1948, and continued her education at the Hepburn School of Nursing. She again returned to school in 1954 at the University of Rochester majoring in Public Health. She received her bachelor’s degree from there in 1958.

During her career she worked at Mt. Sinai in New York City, Rochester General Hospital, Eastern Ambulance, Rochester Metropolitan Hospital an many other hospitals as a nurse. She then went to work at the Department of Social Services in Canton as a social worker, assisting in the setup of the first Medicaid program offered by NYS. She also worked in the public health department for Jefferson County, later transferring to St. Lawrence County where worked for over 25 years in the public health department. Norma also wrote and established “nursing home without walls”. After retiring from St. Lawrence County, she continued to work 10 additional years in homecare for CDP, an additional 5 years in local nursing homes, and for the last 10+ years worked on her son’s farms with him.

Norma was a member of the Order or Easter Stars in Ogdensburg and was named the distinguished citizen for Heuvelton School in 2009. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to the casino, oil painting, traveling to foreign countries, visiting multiple states, and spending time with her family.

Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Lawrence County SPCA. Condolences and fond memories can also be made online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.