Michael R. Norton, President of Norton Funeral Home, Has Died

Michael R. Norton, 60, president of Norton Funeral Home, Inc., died Tuesday July 9, at his home, his family by his side.

He was the devoted husband of 27 years to Judy (Sebastian) Norton of Framingham.

He was the loving son of Doris (Bianchetti) Norton of Framingham and the late Robert P. Norton who died in 1987.

He was born and raised in Framingham. He attended the former St. Stephen Elementary School in Framingham, graduated from Framingham High School class of 1971 and was a graduate of Worcester Junior College.

He worked for various businesses around Framingham including the former Bates News and the Perini Corporation of Framingham In 1977, he graduated with highest honors from the New England Institute of Sanitary Sciences, Embalming, and Funeral Directing in Boston and became a third generation licensed funeral director and embalmer working along side his father who was his mentor.

Upon his father’s death, he became owner and President of the Norton Funeral Home, Inc in Framingham for 26 years. He was a member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association where he served on its many boards and committees and in 1997 was elected and served as their President. He currently served as Treasurer of New England Funeral Trust. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.

He was active in the Framingham community as a business owner and volunteer to many organizations.

He was a coach to his sons’ sports teams in both the Framingham Little Big-League and Framingham Youth Hockey Program for 3 decades. He was a former President of the Framingham Youth Hockey Program and served on its various boards and committees and a past president of the Framingham Grid Iron Club.

For many years he was a member of the Framingham Lodge of Elks, the Columbus Club, and more recently the Marlborough Country Club.

In addition to his mother Doris and wife Judy, he is survived by his children, son Paul R. Norton and his wife Linda, Kelley S. Norton, Robert A. Norton and his fiancée Angela Galante all of Framingham and his granddaughter Ellie C. Norton and his dear aunt, Eleanora Tortorella of Framingham. He is also survived by his close friends, many of whom have become his extended family.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 10 a.m. at St. Bridget’s Church, 830 Worcester Road, (Rt. 9) Framingham. Burial will follow in the family lot at Edgell Grove Cemetery, Framingham.

Visiting hours at the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech St. (corner of Union Ave.) Framingham will be Friday from 3 – 7 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston; c/o Mission Advancement 637 Cambridge St. Brighton, MA 02135 or to Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mt. Wayte Ave, Framingham, MA 01702.