Judith C. (Judy) Norvell

life story

Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma

Judith C. (Judy) Norvell passed away peacefully at North Shore Living in Grand Marais on September 13, 2021, after battling Alzheimer’s Disease for many years.

Grandma Judy was a proud and stoic woman who’s tough exterior melted in the presence of her grandchildren. She was a part of my life from the very beginning. She was my first babysitter when my dad finally convinced my mom to get out of the house 4 months after I was born, and she was there to watch me get my high school diploma on graduation day. She was always a constant in mine and so many other people's lives, always there and always reliable.

Grandma played so many roles in our family. She was a caregiver, a nurse, a chauffeur, a seamstress, a cook and a cheerleader just to name a few. Her decades spent as a registered dietician rightfully earned her the nickname “Food Cop,” yet my brother and I always seemed to get ice cream and popcorn for dessert on our overnights to her house. She also always had some sort of sweet in a round, yellow tupperware on the kitchen counter. She was a surprisingly spirited sports fan in the bleachers of a high school game or watching the Twins from her favorite chair in the living room. She had a signature, “Whoo!” that often surprised unsuspecting spectators near her. In her driving years Grandma was known for having quite a ‘lead foot’, something I am told that my mother and I have apparently acquired as well, but I’m not sure I believe it.

Grandma Judy moved in with my family when my Grandpa Jim passed away in 2017. As her Alzheimers progressed she had fewer and fewer words in her vocabulary but somehow always had enough to tell my brother that his room was a mess. In her final months, her grandchildren were those that brought a smile to her face, and we will miss that smile dearly. But we may take comfort in knowing that she is now free from this terrible disease and her mind is once again whole. Thank you so much for reading.

Sincerely,

Madison Roy and Family