Reflection on the Life of Sr Norma Lynch
27th July 2024 R.I.P.
Norma was born in Baltimore in West Cork, which is a place of outstanding natural beauty and is famous for its holiday resorts, folklore and good food. Norma always boasted that one could see the tip of America from Baltimore. When she was a child, her parents located to Killonan, Ballysimon Co. Limerick. Norma was the eldest of seven children and was educated at the Presentation Convent in Limerick, making that long journey every day with her neighbour, Marion McCarthy, later known as Sr Marion RIP. Norma was brought up by her devout parents Tom and Mary Jo and her prayer life was rooted in the family practices of devotion to Our Lady, the Family Rosary and the practice of the First Friday and Sunday Mass. Through the visit of a Religious Sister to her school she learned about Bermondsey and the devastation of life following World War II and how the Sisters were struggling to rebuild their Convent with limited numbers to ensure continuation into the future. Reflecting on this encounter Norma decided to offer herself as a postulant to the Mercy Sisters in Bermondsey and was graciously accepted. This was indeed a shock to her parents and siblings as Norma had many friends and loved socializing. So, in 1953 with the blessing of her family, who had some reservations, Norma joined nine other young women, who entered the Noviciate in Chislehurst, Kent. The large house in Chislehurst was a replacement for the bombed Convent in Bermondsey. Here we are talking about post war England where there was still rationing and many items at the Convent were scarce, including butter. Telling an Irish girl about the scarcity of butter was like telling her about a famine! Despite the early rising at 5.30am, the daily routine of prayer, study, household and other duties together with the apparent scarcity, Norma threw herself whole heartedly into the life and was exemplary in everything she did. She became a reliable assistant to the Superior, Mother Columba RIP, who loved gardening and Norma was her right-hand person who had an extensive knowledge of plants and flowers as well as weeds, all learned from her mother. I remember on one occasion being sent out to help Norma in the garden and after a short while the Superior told me to go in as I had “foolish hands”! Time passed quickly and after excelling in the appropriate exams Norma went to the Training College in Southampton where she graduated as a teacher in 1960 and spent 7 happy years in St Joseph’s School, Dockhead. It is a blessing to meet some of her past pupils in our Sunday Congregation. Having moved on to St Anne’s School Orpington for 11 years Norma finished her Teaching Career at St Mary’s Whitstable where she served as Teacher, Headteacher and Leader of the Mercy Community. Norma excelled in every aspect of her teaching life, always putting the needs of her pupils first and she seemed to have boundless energy for Netball and Football. In Community she was selfless, generous and had the ability to cook, clean and drive for miles if the need arose. Norma was very hospitable and if visitors arrived unexpectedly, she could put a meal on the table in a short time. She was most generous in helping parishioners who needed a listening ear or a lift to hospital to visit a close relative who was seriously ill. She also had the ability to relax and loved a walk by the seaside on a bright evening and if you were her companion you had to be able to it step out. To recap on Norma’s ministries, it is appropriate to include the time she spent with the Catholic Children’s Society under the Direction of the late Fr Jimmy Hurley RIP. She was an excellent House Mother always cooking the food the Children enjoyed and giving endless cups of tea to their families on a Saturday. She was imaginative in organizing games and swimming when we spent two weeks every year with the children at Dymchurch. Norma will be remembered here in Dockhead for the part she played in the life of the parish as Reader, Eucharistic Minister, a Member of the RCIA and the Parish Liturgy Group together with helping Sr Vianney with the Sacristy Work. When needed Norma was always ready to visit the sick at home or in hospital. She had a listening ear with a promise of prayer to Our Lady for all who shared their concerns and worries. To say we will miss Norma in our Mercy Community is an understatement. She has left a huge void in our lives, but we thank God that she lived among us for all those years and that we were blessed with her presence, generosity and concern for each of us. Norma loved her family, and we assure them of our condolences and prayers today and into the future.
Go Dté Tú Slán.
REST IN PEACE NORMA AND WAIT FOR US ON THE OTHER SIDE
Sr Assumpta Walsh 6.8.2024
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