| MARCH 20, 2013 -- I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - Connecticut has been very fortunate in choosing Lecturers for our State Grange - and Evelyn Normand is a prime example. She moved from Lecturer of Fairfield County Pomona to the State position and did so with a quiet confidence proving she was the right person for the office. She was someone with many ideas, good at working with people and dependable as the day is long. Her husband, Charles, was a person of strong personality, outgoing and clever at making things. Both were friendly, and likeable- Evelyn the strong Lecturer and Charlie her steady helper. They were wonderful to work with.
Trumbull was their Subordinate Grange where they were active on a number of committees and serving in office - Charlie as Master- Evelyn as long-time secretary.
They had a beautiful Siamese cat called Tanny who was their pride and joy! Charlie had built an outdoor screen room at the back of their big house. All Tanny had to do was go out of the window and there was a complete “penthouse” built like a tree with platform seats at each level, all kinds of equipment for a very spoiled cat- and of course, an eating station. This was a great safe enclosure and was an example of how they did everything - well planned and built to perfection!
Charlie died very suddenly from an illness resulting from working for a company which used a lot of asbestos. (We were just beginning to be aware of that serious problem). Evelyn was never the same following her loss.
She carried on her Grange work, but her heart just wasn’t in it. She decided to move “back home” to Whitehall, NY where she had a nephew- about her only relative. She found Grange work in another state different from that in Connecticut, so she never became really active there. She kept in touch with her friends here and did come back to visit once in a while. Those of us who knew her well will always remember how pleasant it was working with her and what a capable person she was.
Do Remember Evelyn! |
