Mary Ellen Normandin, 73, of Crookston, MN, passed away early Monday afternoon, September 11, 2023, in RiverView Health while surrounded by her loving family.
Mary was born in Georgetown, MN on August 6, 1950, one of twelve children of the union of Andrew and Rose (Brunelle) Hermann. While growing up in Georgetown, she was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Catholic Church and received her early years of schooling. She later attended high school in nearby Moorhead, graduating from Moorhead High as a member of the Class of 1968. Mary furthered her education by moving to Crookston and enrolling in Corbett College at Mount St. Benedict. After graduation from there in 1971, Mary began working at the Development Achievement Center (DAC) in Crookston, followed by serving as a volunteer for Vista. On June 6, 1973, Mary was united in marriage to Ernest Joseph Normandin at St. John’s, her home Church in Georgetown. The young couple made their first home in Gentilly, MN, before moving to Crookston in 1975. Over the years, they were blessed by the births of Jim, Amy, Angie, and Scott, raising them in a very loving home. After the move to Crookston, Mary began providing daycare from her home. For the next 40 years, she loved and nurtured hundreds of children and as she grew older her role changed from being “second mom” to ”second grandma” with her last child leaving the nest in 2015.
Mary and Ernie were devoted members of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and after its closing became parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Mary taught RE for many years, sang with the choir, and also served on the Cathedral School Board. She loved spending time with the Sisters of Mount St. Benedict while volunteering her time to them in whatever way she could. In her younger years she was a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters and their friends while they were growing up.
Mary and Ernie loved their family dearly and nothing was better than having everyone home and filling the house with the sounds of grandchildren’s laughter. To the grandkids she was “nana” with the nana bread who also taught them to make cookie salad with dancing bears.
Mary is survived by Ernie, her beloved husband of 50 years; their 4 children: Jim and Kris Normandin of West Fargo, ND, Amy and Makell Pauling-Normandin of Moorhead, MN, Angie and Mike Kreider of West Fargo, and Scott and Samantha Normandin of Moorhead; 11 grandchildren: Cody, Shaynne, Cameron, Mason, Jessie, Aizel, Asher, Ashlynn, Austin, Liam, and Paxton; and great-grandson, Noah. She also leaves 5 brothers: Jerry and Linda Hermann of Georgetown, MN, Mike and Shelia Hermann of Dubuque IA, Charlie and Sherry Hermann of Minto, ND, William and Mary Hermann of Dilworth, MN, and Richard and Lisa Hermann of Moorhead, MN; 3 sisters to whom she was always affectionately known as the Queen Bee: Patricia Audette of Cambridge, MN, Barbara and Mark Thompson of Moorhead, and Jean and Deon Walton of Glyndon, MN; and from Ernie’s side of the family, 2 sisters-in-law, Ruth and Darrell Cymbaluk of Crookston, and Veronica Gilstad of Brentford, SD; together with several nieces and nephews, extended family, and many friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Rose Hermann; brother, Tom Hermann; sisters, Rosie Hermann and Karen Hermann; and brothers-in-law, Bernie Audette and Rick Thomas. From Ernie’s family: parents-in-law, Gloria Normandin, and Jerome and Doris Normandin; and brother-in-law, Larry Gilstad.
Cherished will be the memory of Mary Ellen Normandin.
The Memorial Mass for Mary will be Celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2023, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., Friday, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, concluding with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 7. Visitation will also be at the Cathedral for one hour prior to the Mass. The prayer service and Mass will be livestreamed by going to Mary’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. The Mass may also be viewed by going to www.crookstoncathedral.com and following the prompts to view. Following luncheon at the Cathedral burial will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Gentilly. Messages of condolence may be offered to Ernie and the Family on the funeral website as well. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial in Mary’s name to the Cathedral School.
