QUEENSBURY – Norma Ann (Hart) Potvin, 86, formerly of Hudson Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Friday February 5, 2021 surrounded by her adoring family.
Norma was born in Hudson Falls on December 10, 1934 to Joseph and Eunice (Granger) Hart. Although Norma was an only child, she grew up surrounded by dozens of first cousins who were more like siblings to her. She began her education at St. Mary’s grade school in Hudson Falls and later graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, class of 1951. She was active in many clubs during high school and was voted junior prom queen. After graduation, Norma attended The College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ and earned a bachelor’s degree in English. Following graduation, she taught English at Fort Edward High School.
While in high school, Norma met a handsome young man named Mitchell (Lee) Potvin, Jr. who would become the love of her life. Norma and Lee were united in marriage on August 24, 1957 by Monsignor Kiffin at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hudson Falls.
After living in Buffalo for four years while Lee attended dental school, they moved to Fort Campbell, KY for two years while Lee served in the army. In 1961, they returned to Hudson Falls to settle down and raise their growing family. While raising six children, Norma somehow found time to volunteer for numerous organizations, including the Glens Falls Hospital Guild, the Upper Hudson Dental Wives Association, Big Brothers/Sisters, and the Hyde Museum. Norma also served on the Hudson Falls School District Board of Education for 20 years, 11 of those years as Board President. Norma and Lee were also active members of The Glens Falls County Club for many
years. Norma’s Catholic faith was incredibly strong, and she was very active in the parish of St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s where she was a lifelong member and one of the first babies baptized in the new church. She served as Lector and Eucharistic minister, was a member of the RCIA catechist team, taught religious education, served as a member of the bereavement committee, Ella’s Cupboard and Martha’s hostess committee. Norma also distributed Holy Communion to patients at Glens Falls Hospital. Together with her husband, Norma volunteered at St. Joseph’s House of Grace to watch over and assist the residents in their final days of life and more recently they delivered meals for Meals on Wheels. In 2011, Norma and Lee were recognized as Citizens of the Year by the Hudson Falls Rotary Club.
In the little free time Norma had, she enjoyed reading and completing the daily crossword puzzle and cryptoquotes with ease. She was a voracious reader and routinely devoured 5-7 books a week. Thanks to her Irish roots, Norma was blessed with the “gift of gab” and enjoyed numerous close friendships. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, antique shopping, dancing and most recently spending time with her knitting group. However, none of these hobbies compared to the joy and pleasure she derived from spending time with her family and attending her children’s and then grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts, inductions, etc. Her large family was the world to Norma, and she would drop everything to spend time with each and every one of them. She loved them fiercely and unconditionally, and God help anyone who crossed them!
Norma was predeceased by her parents, a brother-in-law, Joseph Potvin, and many cousins.
Those left to cherish her memory include her devoted husband of 63 years,
Dr. Mitchell Lee Potvin, Jr.; her six children, Amy (Scott) Spencer, Dr. Mitchell Lee Potvin, III (Charlotte), Stacy Potvin (Sharon), Dr. Joseph Potvin (Carolyn), Cheryl (William) Hogan and Renee (Michael) Borgos; her 17 grandchildren who loved and adored her, Jordan (Jennifer), Maura, Cullen (Melissa), Evan (Amanda), Leah (Joe) and Tessa Spencer, Connor Potvin,Thomas, Benjamin, Daniel and Eliza Hogan, Nora, Luke and Heath Borgos, Joseph, Magdelene and Stephen Potvin; as well four great-
grandchildren, Lyla, Finley, Carter and Declan. Norma is also survived by her brother-in-law, William (Lyn) Potvin and her sisters-in-law Anne Marie (Bill) Mather and Patricia Potvin, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Norma’s family would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Gaiotti-Grubbs, her nurses and all of the wonderful staff at the C.R. Wood Cancer Center for the care and compassion they gave our mother over the past few years. Her family is also eternally grateful to High Peaks Hospice for their support in Norma’s final days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 80 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls, NY.
Friends may visit with the family at the church prior to mass from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
The mass will be live streamed on St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRmh9joNvRgNRZFfSKWKBA
In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks and social distancing are required and contact tracing information must be provided upon admittance to the church.
The Rite of Committal will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Edward in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you instead consider donations in Norma’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children Processing Center, PO Box 863765, Orlando, FL 32886 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 2 Pine West Plaza #202, Albany, NY 12205.
It is with great sadness that I write to you, Lee, and all the family on the occasion of the passing of Norma. They’re not enough words to express the beauty of her soul and the beauty that she exuded and joy that she delivered to all whoever had the opportunity and the great blessing to meet her and know her.
You and Norma were the first people that I met the night that I moved here to Hudson Falls over at Martha’s home. Through these many years your kindness to me was above and beyond anything I ever expected or dreamed of. Thank you.
I offer my prayers and sympathy and love to each of you and pray that God will put forth His blessings on you and comfort you during this difficult time. Rest in peace Norma and enjoy your eternal reward that you so well deserve.
My beloved cousin and friend. She will be sorely missed by family and friends. We all loved and admired her for her kindness, friendliness, and generosity. Norma was a beautiful woman. We are all better off for having been friends and relatives. Our prayers are with her and her wonderful family.
So very sorry for your loss
Condolences to All Norma’s Families
May God Bless You All in Comfort and Peace through Your Happy Memories of Your Dearly Departed
Sincerely,
Dan Watkins
Mr. Potvin and Family, my thoughts, prayers and love to ALL of you. Mrs. Potvin was a lovely lady and supportive parent when Joe and Cheryl were my past second graders. I had the pleasure to Sub in Glens Falls fort Renee’s daughter Nora in later years. She was a wonderful President of the HF Board of Education. Many wonderful memories through the years. She will be missed. Love and prayers, Bonnie (Miss Y.)
I was sad to hear of Norma’s passing. As a little girl I was enamored with how beautiful my cousin Norma was. Norma and Lee were a perfect couple and raised a beautiful family. Norma wasn’t only beautiful on the outside, she was genuinely beautiful inside as well, full of grace and class.
I’m very sorry for your loss and I know Norma will be missed very much!
Rest In Peace Norma!
Wonderful words and sentiment from Theresa. My feelings exactly.
My sincere condolences to you Dr. Potvin and your family 💜
Dr. potvin (Lee) and family, I am so very sorry about Norma’s passing, she was a wonderful person and a good example for all of us. You are all in my prayers.
I am so saddened with the passing of my cousin, Norma. She was a sweet and beautiful lady. I have so many wonderful memories of all the good times we shared while growing up together. Thank you, Norma, for being a part of my life. She will be truly missed by her family and friends.
With love, prayers, and sincere sympathy,
Norine
Very sad news to hear. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Dr. Lee Potvin and Family,
We are saddened to learn of Norma’s passing and know she had a rough couple years, as did all of you. It is never easy to accept losing a loved one and each of you will go through your own grieving process but know this, your parents have been role models for so many of us in and around Hudson Falls and we grieve along with you.
We have been blessed to have known a small part of them and their family. The world can surely use more Norma and Lee Potvin’s. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!!!
Dr. Lee Potvin and Family,
It was with great sadness that we learned about Norma’s death, please accept our condolences. We enjoyed our visit with the NY Potvins a few years back and were looking forward to making that happen again but Covid got in the way. It was obvious from that visit, and the facebook contacts, that we shared so many common family and faith values and Elaine and I had hoped to sit and discuss with you how our common heritage and upbringing led to those shared values over the generations. Lee, you and Norma have been in our daily prayers since the day we met and you will remain in them. Knowing that Norma’s suffering has ended helps a little but knowing she is now with the Lord helps more. That does not take away the pain of the loss of Norma in your lives, but your wonderful memories of the love she shared with you each day gives you a small glimpse of the love she is now sharing with Jesus, and I am sure she is still watching over and praying for each of you now, as that is what we parents and grandparents do. May God be with you at this time of your loss and reinforce your faith in Jesus’ promise that you will be with Norma again.
Doc & Family, Mary and I are so sorry to hear of Norma’s passing. A wonderful person who exhibited such class and compassion, while serving as a first class example of all that is good about Hudson Falls.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers., and Doc, hope to see you soon.
Dear Dr. Lee Potvin and family,
Please know that others share in your loss and you all are in our prayers. May peace fill your hearts remembering how blessed you were to have this extraordinary woman in your life.
So sorry for your loss. I remember Norma as a beautiful friendly cousin of my Mom. She always had a wonderful smile.please accept my sincere condolences.
Dear Lee and family,
So sorry for your loss. Norma was such a kind soul and good friend to my parents. She was someone who whenever she saw you was genuinely interested in what you were doing and always expressed positive caring words. She raised a beautiful family. Rest in Peace Norma.
So sorry for your lose, may god guide you through this time! Prayers are with you all!
So sorry for your loss. Many memories with are families. Prayers and good thoughts to all.
The Chase Family
My sincerest condolences to the Potvin families for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Carl and Agnes Ross Family, formerly of Hudson Falls, would like to send our sincerest condolences to the family of Norma Potvin.
Dear Lee and family,
I am sending my deepest sympathy to you all upon the death of one of the sunniest people I have ever known. Norma was the heart of our Hart family and her kindness, energy and uproarious laugh will be sorely missed by all the people she touched. I will do my best to follow the live stream on Friday. Know that you are dearly loved and always will be. That is Norma’s legacy.
Kathleen
So sorry to hear of the passing of Norma. She was one beautiful women inside and out . She had such a radiant smile that lite up the room. Thoughts and prayers to The Potvin families. May she Rest In Peace .
so sorry for your loss.Prayer for your family.
Doc & family, We were saddened to learn of your great loss with Norma’s passing. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. May your many wonderful memories help comfort you during this trying time.
I would like to send condolances and warm hugs to all of the Potvin family on the passing of your wife and Mother Norma .
My family grew up across the street from Joe and Eunice Hart and your Moms home on Preston Street .I remember fondly Joe and Eunice .I would climb up on the back of your Grampa Joes truck and remember it being filled with pipe and tools and all kinds of metals etc ,as my Dad and Joe would converse. I also remember your Grammas sweet little house and would also visit with her as a child .Later ,as a teenager ,was when my Mom and your Mom Norma ,asked me to babysit for your family living on Paris Avenue at the time . I have fond memories taking care of all of you kids and one stands out .If I was there for an evening , kids would stay in the tv family room and I would go out into the kitchen and whip up a surprise snack with what I could find for a treat before you went to bed .We had some fun with that!! You all were a great family of six great kids and That is a reflection on your sweet Mother ! I went on to teach and I got my start watching your sweet family of 6! .She was a beautiful lady and you will see her again. Sending heart felt condolances as you remember and grieve .
We would like to send our condolences to the Potvin family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Alisa Brown (Rabine) and my sister Beth Brown (Johnson) would visit our grandparents ( Louise and Leo Hart) on 3 Russell St. HF. This was in back of Norma’s parents house. We would love playing with Amy and Mitchie (as we called him) when they visited their grandparents (Eunice and Joe) Amy and Beth even traveled to Ireland with their grandmothers, Eunice and Louise many years ago. God Bless our families! 🙏 RIP Dear Norma
Extending my sincere and deepest sympathy to all of the Potvin families. She created a beautiful legacy in all of her endeavours and especially in her family. Thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Our deepest condolences to you, Doctor Potvin, and your entire family. Bill and I watched the beautiful funeral mass this morning, thanks to YouTube; our dear friend, Genny Brodt, also watched with us. We all thought it was a lovely tribute to a lovely woman. Tess’s gorgeous voice brought tears…Norma’s touching words to you and to your children made the tears flow. We were grateful to be able to be safely present in our own home. Warm hugs to Stephen; as you might remember, he is the same age as our granddaughter, Shae, so he has always had a special place in our hearts. You are all in our hearts and prayers. Sincerely, Bill and Kathy
Doc Potvin, Joe, Mitch & Family-
I am so sorry to hear the sad news. My sincere condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Such a wonderful family lead by an amazing woman. Peace & God Bless!
Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Potvin famiiies for your loss. It’s never easy no matter the situation. God bless you all!
To the Potvin family,
Our family wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathy, in the loss of one so dear you.
Sincerely in peace,
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Springer and Son &
Gloria Cooley
To the Potvin family,
Deepest sympathy to your family at this difficult time.
Thinking of you.
John and Brenda VanDeusen
Greg, Jill and Sheila
“A life that matters” says it all. Norma’s service on youtube was a gift to the 500 viewers in Hudson Falls to share in the celebration of a life well lived. You, Dr Lee and Norma have been our village’s heart and soul for decades. In particular, for me, teaching 4 or your six wonderful children was a joy. And I shall always be grateful to Norma for her support of me and our Ap English curriculum during the 1995 book issue. Norma and Doc Zeus were my twin towers of wisdom. One last note, Staceys eulogy coupled with Tessas reading of Norma’s final message to her “jewels” and to you, Lee, moved me to tears. Love to you all,
Dayle Ahrens