Ann-Marie’s Obituary was read aloud at the Memorial Mass by her son, Kevin Norman
Stella Ann-Marie Norman peacefully passed away on the morning of February 12, 2021, while holding the hand of her son Kevin after a long battle with dementia. She was 90 years young!
Ann-Marie, as she was known to friends and family, was born on January 6, 1931, in Belmont, Port of Spain, on the island of Trinidad to Edgar Timothy Victor Kelly and Stella Alexandra Kelly (née Devenish). She was 1 of 13 children. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School, she moved to Jamaica, where she lived with her sister Enid and brother-in-law Ulrich, who was a teacher there. She lived in Jamaica for a year, helping to take care of her nephew, Sandy. In 1950 they all moved to England, where Ann-Marie would begin her studies to become a Nurse.
In 1953, she received her Diploma in Nursing from Essex County Hospital in Colchester, England. She then worked as a Midwife for the next three years until completing her coursework for Operating Room Techniques. She then worked her way up to Assistant Supervisor of the Operating Room at University College Hospital in London, England.
In 1959, she moved to the USA and lived with her sister Edla in Brooklyn while attending Hunter College and working as an Operating Room Surgical Nurse at Roosevelt Hospital.
In 1963, Ann-Marie went on to study to be an Anesthetist at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After completing the Anesthesia program, she went on to work at Saint Luke’s Hospital in 1965 as a Staff Anesthetist. She continued to work as an Anesthetist at various hospitals all over New York until her retirement.
Stella Ann-Marie Kelly met Vincent Norman at a party held by their mutual friend, Jacques Preston. They were married in 1966 at the Church of The Holy Name on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and settled down on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where they raised three children. They were married for 47 years until Vincent’s death in 2014.
She and Vincent were both active in the community and as parents. One or the other served as the PTA president of every school their kids attended. Ann-Marie helped Vincent start a local chapter of the Cub Scouts, where she served as a “Den Mother” along with other mothers of the cub scouts in the neighborhood. She even assisted in establishing a chapter of the “Brownies” when her daughter was old enough.
She and Vincent traveled to every corner of the world together visiting such places as China, Japan, and Egypt, as well as several European countries, Caribbean Islands, and several states from Florida to Alaska. They also brought their children along on many trips to experience the world as a family. These family trips not only included vacations to Europe, Trinidad, and Disney World but also on camping trips in the mountains of upstate NY and to functioning farms that would host families on vacation. She also visited Australia with co-workers, which meant that she visited every continent except Antarctica.
Her main involvement in the community centered around St. Mary’s Church, of which she was an active and loyal member for 50 years. She served on numerous committees and helped to plan a variety of events. She was part of the first group of Eucharistic Ministers that St. Mary’s ever had and was even tasked with making the Communion bread on several occasions. She loved her time at St. Mary’s and adored all of the lifelong friends she made there.
Ann-Marie was extremely active. She couldn’t sit still and was always on the move. She even completed her first marathon in Dublin, Ireland, at the age of 70. Not even retirement could quell her energy. She “unretired” to become a traveling nurse-anesthetist and did stints at hospitals as close as Long Island, NY, and as far as Seattle, Washington. But as active as she was, she thoroughly enjoyed spending summer days just relaxing on the beach in Sag Harbor, reading a book or chatting away.
Ann-Marie had a vibrant soul and a zest for life. Her smile would light up a room, and her energy would spread to all in her presence. Celebrations and festivities were in her blood. She loved to cook her Trinidadian food and host parties. Music and dancing sparked a special part of her and brought her joy.
Ann-Marie is predeceased by her husband Vincent, her parents, and all of her 12 siblings.
She is survived by her children Scott Norman, Kevin Norman, and Melanie Dorsey; her daughter-in-law Lishona Norman and her son-in-law Bryan Dorsey; her granddaughters Sophia Rose Dorsey and Victoria Annmarie Dorsey; and generations of nieces and nephews around the world.
Ann-Marie will be dearly missed by all who loved her.