Sandra J. Norman

Sandra Jane Norman (nee Morgan), beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor went home to be with the Lord on October 2, 2026 at the age of 87.

All who were fortunate to know her mourn her loss, and yet take comfort that she is again united with Robert, her husband of over 60 years, her parents Jane and Vincent Morgan, and her brother Vince who preceded her in death. It is a bittersweet relief that she, who was in constant motion doing for others into her final year, is in well-deserved peaceful rest. Originally from Scranton PA, the family moved to West Paterson when she was 16. She might have been born elsewhere, but she became a Jersey girl at heart. Sandy loved making and doing: a talented artist, gardener, seamstress and handy-woman. She met Bob through friends on a blind date at the Orange County Fair Speedway, perhaps the first and last time she ever went to the races.

After marrying in 1961, they built a life together on the shores of Lake Edenwold in Butler where they bought a little log cabin 1962 and filled it with memories until their handiwork passed to a new family just months ago. She painted walls, installed fixtures, wallpapered, landscaped, and even laid carpet in the “little” house they expanded multiple times to raise 4 children in, and where she eventually welcomed sons- and daughters-in-law like they were her own, as well as 7 adored grandchildren and a cherished great-grandchild too.

The Norman home was full of her creativity and spirit, and also often filled to overflowing on holidays, birthdays and anniversaries with the extended Normans and Morgans – her New Year's Day parties and front-lawn badminton games are most fondly remembered. When not working on some project or hosting, Sandy loved the outdoors and was a member of many walking and hiking groups through the years. She and Bob were frequent cyclists along the paths and rail trails of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. While raising Leslie, Cynthia, Timothy and Mark, Sandy nurtured her artistry with mail-in programs, homemade clothes, collages of shells, beautiful gardens, cross-stitch and upholstery projects, edible masterpieces, sketches, paintings, and continued practice of various arts. She juggled motherhood while going back to school in her late 50s to graduate from Montclair University with an BA in Art History.

She did part-time office work for numerous companies in North Jersey, mostly to save diligently for education for her children and grandchildren. She somehow still had time to give back to the church communities of Church of the Nazarene in Butler and Grace Free Church Evangelical in Milton, and brought her time and talents to the Taconic church camp, especially teaching and leading crafts for kiddos. Her most cherished projects of course are those she created for and with her grandchildren Timothy, Shannon, Nicole, Jessica, Justin, Eva and Elie, and great-granddaughter, Kendall. She made her home a place of creativity, refuge and fun with games, toys, crafts and of course deliciousness like her blueberry muffins and homemade pizza. Her ice cream cake roll became a legendary staple and one that she was asked to make every year during Christmas time. Sandy’s care extended to four-legged family, especially faithful and beloved Marie the cat – both the one she kept alive through years of injections and sheer force of will and love, and also the alive-to-her version of her final year who continues to be a companion to those she leaves behind at Sunrise of Wayne.

Sandy’s family cannot express enough gratitude to the capable, kind staff and nurses of the Memory Care wing, and also Compassionate Care Hospice; her final months and days were far better for all of you. Sandy is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, great-grandchild, brother John Morgan, sister Sally Weiss, cousin Jill McLaren, as well as many more Normans, Morgans, McLaughlins, Fields, and so very many more who loved her. The family will be celebrating her life together on October 7th at Morrison Funeral Home in Butler and visitors are welcome from 4 to 8 PM. The funeral service will be at 11am Thursday October 8th and Sandra will be laid to rest at Milton Cemetery Association in Milton, NJ.

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