Norma Marie Desjardins

Norma M. Desjardins (nee Adelizzi), 90, of Downingtown PA, formerly of Havertown, died of pneumonia on Sunday August 28, 2022 at St. Martha’s Manor in Downingtown.

She was born in Philadelphia in 1932, raised in Upper Darby and Drexel Hill, and graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1949 and Rosemont College in 1953.  She married the love of her life, Jay Desjardins MD, in 1954. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before his death in 2014.

Norma taught third grade at Garrettford School for several years before selflessly devoting her life to raising her children. She enjoyed golf, tennis, and dance, and was a voracious reader. A scholar of religion, she volunteered as a CCD teacher at St. Bernadette Church for many years.

She was a truly gifted writer! Family and friends were the beneficiaries of her labors of love, countless beautifully handwritten personal notes for every occasion. After extensive research, she wrote and published an illustrated family history entitled Tell Us a Story, in which she inimitably recounts many family stories to preserve them for future generations. This book is the priceless legacy she left us.

Norma was beautiful, kind, gentle, and highly intelligent. She was always elegantly dressed, a true lady.  She never spoke ill of anyone, a trait which earned her numerous loyal lifetime friends.

She is survived by her loving daughters Paula Strauss (David), Christine Emery MD (Donald MD), and Marilyn Hauser (Daniel), and sons Jay (Michele) and Stephen (Belinda); 14 grandchildren, Justin (Robin) and Alix Wiley, Zach (Marilyn) and Jason (Frances) Emery, Daniel, David (Maggie), and Michael Hauser, Brigh, Grace, and Drew Desjardins, Camille, Cambria, Chanel, and Stephen (JR) Desjardins, 1 great-grandchild Josephine Wiley, brother Robert Adelizzi and sister Marilyn Roellig. She was predeceased by her loving husband Jay.

Friends and relatives are invited to her visitation Wednesday, August 31, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 AM and Funeral Mass from 10:00-11:00 AM at St. Norbert Church, 50 Leopard Rd, Paoli, PA, 19301.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.