Edith (Edie) Norek

Edith (Edie) Norek passed away unexpectedly on July 20, 2026.

In 1942, Edie was born to John E. Marciniak and Irene T. Jozefowicz in Schenectady, NY. She was predeceased by her parents and beloved daughter, Michelle. Edie is survived by her husband, Richard, her children Michael (Colleen), Greg (John Riley), Catherine; two grandchildren (Jessica and Jack), and her brother John Jr. Marciniak (Karen).

Edie became a registered nurse after completing St. Peter’s School of Nursing in Albany NY. From there, she attended the Air Force Medical Service School in Gunter, Alabama from where she was stationed in Oklahoma where she engaged in out-of-theater flight nursing missions for the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Leaving active duty, Edie returned to Schenectady where she met Richard on a blind date. She and “Dick” hit it off and made a bond that lasted a lifetime. Hailing from Poland, Dick was a perfect mate and foil for the vivacious Edie. They married on July 20th, 1968. Michael was born the next year, followed by Gregory within the next two years and they paused on the childbearing, but just for a while.

Edie, Dick and the boys had a warm family life in Schenectady until the late 1970s when an opportunity with Aramco moved them to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. They built a strong community in Dhahran, and when Edie and Dick partially recovered from the boys, they decided that having daughters might be fun to check off the checklist. Michelle and Catherine joined them and their older brothers in the early 1980s. During the Saudi years the family was shepherded by Edie’s love of life, home, travel and friends. Every year the family would venture to far flung destinations. Poland, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, the U.K., Jordan, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Syria and numerous other countries mixed in, with desert excursions deep into the Empty Quarter of Saudi with sand dunes and camels as company. The Gulf war came to Dhahran and with younger children she and Dick protected her family with courage and guile.

Wherever home was Edie created a warm and loving place festooned in exotic wares; oriental carpets, Turkish coffee pots, camel saddles, intricate wall hangings, local art, and the cacophony of animals. Cats, dogs, and exotic parrots, from all over the globe. She could not turn out an animal that needed her help.

Edie leaves her beloved grandchildren, Jessica and Jack. Throughout the years “Babćia” had perfected the combination of caring, loving, teasing and brimming with pride in her grandkids. In Poland, her sweet urgings to Jack as she spoon-fed him carrot salad that he still doesn’t like. It was hard to say no to Babćia. At crew races, she cheered Jessica’s boat from the riverside. Family holidays came with over-the-top decorations; dancing Santas, table décor, the tree full of ornaments from her travels. Each step through the house was marked with a whimsical holiday decoration. Overflowing exotic foods, snacks and Skip-Bo games, it was always a late night with Edie. This is what she lived for, this was the meaning of life.

Life was full with Edie in it. She is painfully missed.

On Saturday July 25th there will be a wake at 9:30am followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30, both at St. Ann’s Catholic Parish, 26 Dogwood Trail, DeBary, FL.  In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the Brain Fitness Academy at Stetson University: Give Under the designation drop-down menu, please select “Other” and then type in "Brain Fitness Academy"

Following the Catholic Mass, there will be a gathering from 12pm to 2pm at  Venue 142   142 N. Woodland Blvd. Deland, FL

There will also be a celebration of life in the Boston area at a later date.