Norma Mary Hubert Carlson of Cos Cob, CT passed away from COVID-19 on April 24, 2020 at the age of 91. Born on Dec. 22, 1928 in Montreal, Canada to Alfred Hubert (a boxer known as Kid Hubert) and Pearl McKerness, she attended French school in Montreal and dreamed of being a figure skater.
Meeting her future husband, the late John (Jack) Carlson of Cos Cob, at Chez Maurice Danceland in Montreal, Norma was smitten by Jack’s “unique” dance style. They fell in love the next day on a bicycle built for four. She moved to New Jersey and after a short courtship, married Jack and they moved to Cos Cob to raise their family. They were happily married for 63 years.
Norma worked as a bookkeeper at Aero-Nautical Boats in Greenwich and Rings End in Darien. A talented seamstress, she loved making beautiful quilts for family and friends and was an avid bowler and ice skater. She volunteered with the Cos Cob Ladies Auxiliary and as a driver with the Greenwich Red Cross. She loved ice cream (a shared family trait), playing Bingo, the color blue, Mardi Gras beads, and music from all decades and genres. She especially loved attending concerts and plays where her children or grandchildren performed. Her favorite song was “Sentimental Journey,” and even as Alzheimer’s stole her memory, she could recall every line to songs from her past. She loved speaking French, “C’est bon!” being one of her frequent expressions, along with “Old age doesn’t come alone” and when asked how she was doing, “Still alive and kicking – not too high!”
She and Jack traveled the world and loved visiting family and friends. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, always there for everyone without a second thought, driving her children and grandchildren to their music lessons and activities and always being their biggest cheerleader. When she was together with her sisters, there was always much laughter and love; she adored spending time in her beloved Montreal.
Her parents, Alfred and Pearl, a daughter Susan Agnes Carlson, and her siblings, Clara Kane, Pearl Hubert, James Hubert, Gertrude Turchin, Florence Garvey, and Marie Anne Brunone, preceded Norma in death. She is survived by her five children: Thomas (Susan) Carlson, Christine (Christopher-deceased) Doney, Robert (Barbara Urso) Carlson, Mary (Thomas) Waicul, and Eileen (John) Sierra. Norma is also survived by six grandchildren: Anthony (Nikki) Waicul, Doreen Dimitri, Courtney (Jefrey Bulla) Carlson, Justin Sierra, Stephen (Josie) Carlson, and Keli Sierra Bradley, as well as five great-grandchildren: Kaylin Dimitri, Ella Waicul, and Bradley, Benjamin and Zachary Carlson, plus many nieces and nephews.
Norma was loved deeply by her family and friends and they will miss her unconditional love, one-liners making them laugh, devotion to her family, and strong spirit. A special thank you to the staff at Brightview on New Canaan for the wonderful care they provided to Norma in her final years, and to the doctors, nurses and staff at Norwalk Hospital for their compassionate care, holding her hands and comforting her in her final moments.
Burial is private; a celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association or Norwalk Hospital.
