Nora Rylee Birch

BELGRADE – Nora (Sunflower) Birch – A.K.A. – Nona, was born in Augusta, ME 1997, making her 17 when she tragically took her own life on September 30, 2014. Nona was a Belgrade girl all her life, and was 7 months away from graduating from high school to attend Colby, Bowdoin, or UMF where she planned to become an editor. She had been working all summer in Belgrade Lakes at the Dairy Bar and Wings Hill to earn money for college.

Her brilliant mind, sharp wit and loving demeanor, touched all that knew her. Her sharky comments, and bantering, were a, “shot of caffeine” for her fellow students on boring school days. She loved to draw, sing, and sarcastically duel back and forth with others. She took many AP classes which she loved, and was heavily involved in Band, Chorus, Drama, a woman’s singing group called, “Lirama”, accompanying on piano for violinist and cellists of Pineland Fiddlers, Pineland Suzuki, and New England Music Camp. She was looking forward to starting her first private lessons as a piano teacher, trying to start up a band with a friend who is a talented fiddler, and continuing to play music wither her sister, who play violin, and brother, who plays guitar.

She is survived by her Papa, Mumma, brothers Ayden (Buster Brown) and Haven (Hoo Hoo), sisters – Pyper (Petunia) and Ivy (Zhu-Zhu). Her Grammy Lynn in CA, Paka and Mimi, her Great-Great Aunt Rose (who she loved to speak French with), Great Aunt Bernice, her close Aunts – Jessie, K.C., Becky, Jeanne, and Kasey. Uncles – Kenny, Kory, Jeff, and Bobby, her monkey cousin Harrison, and Beefcake Wyatt. Also, her many clan cousins and family on the West Coast, and broad amount of cousins and family on the East Coast. As well as, her special friends in Band, Chorus, NEMC, Pineland Fiddlers, and Suzuki – and special friends Sierra, Tesla, Liam, Gracie, Julia, Emma, Ethan, and Erik.

Nora was a born again Christian who attended Belgrade Bible Church and regularly attended Camp Good News in Livermore Falls where she always had more fun than should have been legal. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. We already miss her yelling as she came in the front door, “Mumma, I’m home”. When we see her next she will be running to us and saying, “Mumma and Papa, you’re HOME!”

There will be a remembrance gathering in Oakland at the Performing Arts Center Wednesday October 8 at 6PM. A funeral will be held at Belgrade Bible Church in Belgrade, ME on October 10, at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, please send the donations to help support the Birch family by submitting PayPal payments to this e-mail address: [email protected]

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm St. Waterville, ME. www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com