Published in the November 15, 2018 edition.
AMESBURY — Norma Elizabeth (Rose) LeBlanc, 68, passed away on November 12, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Norma was born on March 28, 1950 in Boston, the first daughter of Norman James and Elizabeth Rose (Buckley). After 21 months of courtship, she married the love of her life, Russell LeBlanc on September 5, 1970. It was the fairytale beginning of 48 blessed years filled with love, joy, and faith. They raised a daughter, Nicole Jane Stenclik (LeBlanc), and a son, Shaun Lucien LeBlanc. Norma’s greatest love was her family. She lived her life putting the ones she loved first, and nothing gave her more joy than being with her family, especially her husband, children and beloved grandchildren.
After Norma graduated from Stoneham High School in 1968, she worked at Smithcraft in Wilmington as a secretary where she met the love of her life, Russell. Eight months later, he was deployed to Korea for 13 months to serve his tour of duty with the United States Army. He proposed in a letter on Christmas Eve, and they were married two weeks after he returned from Korea. After moving back to Attleboro from Norfolk, Va., Norma worked as a secretary at a boarding school for troubled boys in Taunton, and after a few years became the assistant director. They later returned to the Stoneham area where Norma was raised, and she worked part-time at the family stationary store as a bookkeeper. Her true life’s work and passion was raising her two children, Nicole and Shaun, and creating a beautiful home, full of love, laughter, support and delicious meals, often shared with family, friends and neighbors. Once her children were in school, she spent ten years at HBCS in Wakefield, where her boss became one of her dearest friends, which is indicative of how Norma lived her life: to know her was to love her.
Norma was very active in the Reading community, where she and Russell raised their children. She spent several years volunteering at Joshua Eaton Elementary School assisting special education students. Norma was very involved in the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and served on various committees over the years. She also taught religious education at the local church. Norma’s passion for her children and all of their interests was shown in her frequently hosted pasta parties for Nicole’s sports teams and celebrations for Shaun’s drama club.
Norma succumbed to pancreatic cancer after battling the disease for almost two and a half years. She braved her diagnosis in the same way she lived her life – with unparalleled dignity, grace and strength; love of her family and friends; putting those she loved first; and enjoyment of the everyday moments that made up her life that she cherished so much. She beat the odds for over two years, maintaining an extraordinary quality of life while in bi-weekly treatment. She continued to be a daily presence in her grandchildren’s lives, who adore her so, as well as an important part of her nieces and nephews’ lives, and their children, whom she considered extensions of her own children and grandchildren. Norma’s legacy is her devotion to those she loved. She will be deeply missed by all, but her light and love will live on in all who know and love her.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Elizabeth Rose, dear aunt, Jane Buckley, father- and mother-in-law, Lucien and Florence LeBlanc. She is survived by her husband, Russell R. LeBlanc of Amesbury; her children, Nicole Jane Stenclik (husband, Michael, granddaughter, Gabriella Rose and grandson, Theodore Russell) of Amesbury and Shaun Lucien LeBlanc of Walpole; her siblings, Stephanie DiCarlo (husband, Joseph), Carey Roberto (husband, Jack), James Rose (wife, Pauline), Christopher Rose (wife, Sarah), Melissa Laskey (husband, Ron); and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Her funeral will be held from the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home 322 Main Street, Stoneham on Monday, November 19 at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central Street, Stoneham at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Stoneham. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, November 18 from 1 – 4 p.m.
