Norma Sylvia Nai Frederick, 94, of Frederick, Maryland, passed away on December 18th at Frederick Health Hospital after a brief illness. Predeceased by her parents, Nello and Jenny Nai, brothers Albert and Alfred, and husband Bruce, Norma is survived by her sister Eleanor, children Carl, Paula, Neil and Adam, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Norma was born January 19th, 1930, in Wilmington, Delaware. She attended Charles B. Lore Elementary, Thomas F. Bayard Junior High and Wilmington High School. After some college course work Norma married her high school sweetheart Bruce Frederick in 1952. They called each other LB and never revealed what it meant.
Norma emphasized independent thinking in raising her four children while Bruce pursued his career in teaching. She also held a number of jobs: clerk in the bursar’s office at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where Bruce taught, secretary at Terumo Medical in Elkton, Maryland, and book conservator at the Kirkwood Public Library outside Wilmington, to name a few. Norma was ever devoted to husband Bruce, caring for him in his final difficult years.
An avid reader, Norma belonged to several book clubs and particularly loved James Michener’s historical novels. She and Bruce enjoyed tennis and Norma continued to play into her eighties with the Model A’s club. Norma was known for her empathy, active both within the Catholic Church and the community at large. She sang with the church choir for many years.
Norma often recalled the two years she and Bruce lived in Saudi Arabia where she engaged in teaching pre-schoolers, collecting butterflies and otherwise loving the desert climate.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on January 11th, 10:30 am, with visitation at 9:30 am. at St. John’s/Holy Angels Church, 82 Possum Park Rd. Newark, DE 19711. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church at the above address or https://stjohn-holyangels.com
