Obituary of Norma Griffel

Norma Elizabeth Griffel (Lynch), age 86, passed away on February 13th, 2023 surrounded by her family. 

Norma was born on March 2,1936 in Jersey City, NJ. She was raised in Fair Lawn, NJ and graduated from Fair Lawn High School as the salutatorian of her class. She loved art and was on the art committee in high school and designed a yearbook cover and played softball. Norma loved to sing and act and went to NYC to take singing lessons quite often.  While in NYC at one of her lessons, she was asked by Columbia Records to make a recording. She met her spouse Raymond at her theater group. Raymond and Norma married April 14, 1962 and resided in Paterson, NJ until they bought their first home in Oakland, NJ in 1967. 

She spent most of her career as an executive secretary. However, her most rewarding job was opening her home and heart to start a day care center in 1993. Not only did she care for her own two grandchildren but watched many others throughout the years. 

The biggest impact that Norma left was her ability to connect and empathize with people. Norma loved and appreciated her family and made sure they knew that every day. Norma loved to send and receive texts and even had her own Bitmoji. She spent her last year and a half at the Bristal Assisted Living in Wayne, NJ where she was on a first name basis with all the staff. Norma loved to love people! As we move forward in our lives without Norma, her family and friends will honor her legacy by showing all people love, kindness, and gratitude. We will all miss her dearly!

She is survived by her three children Sandy, Scott and Bonnie. Sandy Faren and her fiancé Mike McEvoy (daughter Emily), Sandy's two daughters Lauren and Kristy. Lauren Faren and her partner Jason Kamerer with their daughter Makenna; and Kristy Faren. Scott Griffel and his wife Robin, Bonnie Hinnigan and her husband Rob with their three children, Sean, Kyle (twin sons) and daughter Kelly.  Her sister Helen Smith (Helen's twin sister Fran who is deceased), and many other family members.

Norma was predeceased by her husband Raymond Griffel and her parents Joseph and Helen Lynch (O’Neil) and her sisters Jeannie Lynch, Dorothy Michelli, Fran Dietch, Joan Russell, and Norma’s twin sister Lorraine Lynch.

P.S. “Cover me Mommy”, “Text me when you’re home”, “Love all my children and their families with every fiber of my being throughout time! Mom, mommy, mama!"