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The Life of Catherine E. Norris

Catherine Elizabeth Morgan Norris, a lifelong Philadelphian, was born at home -1741 McClellan Street in South Philadelphia - on November 19, 1917 to Florence Bowers Morgan and Harvey Napoleon Morgan. She was the second born child of two boys and two girls and the last survivor of her siblings.
Catherine was educated in the Philadelphia School System, graduated from Overbrook High School, and continued her education by attending night school to learn typing. This enabled her to secure a job as a clerk typist with the federal government for War Assets and the Signal Corp. During the war, she went with a group, to the Stage Door Canteen to visit the troops and also helped start a young woman's group, The Smart Set.
In 1946, she met her future husband, Charles Verdelle Norris. They married on June 7, 1947, and later, had two daughters, Catherine (Cathy) and Marcia. After the birth of her first child, Catherine dedicated herself to being a stay at home mom, but still took the time to collect for charities like The March of Dimes and  serve as a choir mother, Sunday school teacher and advisor for the Young People's Fellowship at her church. She worked hard at church, organizing and cooking dinners and producing plays for the Sunday school children to perform. She and her husband were both active in church.
Catherine enjoyed reading magazines and cook books, had a passion for cooking and baking and was known for her delicious homemade meals, fruitcakes, cakes and bread. Her spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna were legendary (according to her older granddaughter). Some of her other loves were music, singing, dancing and spending time with her family and friends.
Catherine was always a caring person who wanted to help. She helped to care for her parents, brothers, sister, aunt and uncle and took care of her grandchildren (before they were school age) during the day while their parents were at work. When a young neighbor from Africa was having trouble with her homework, Catherine volunteered and helped her for two years.
When her first child was school age, she became active at Dunlap Elementary School, working with the PTA and later becoming PTA President. At Dunlap, she helped organize teachers' luncheons, cake and candy sales. Later, she became president of the PTA at Shaw Jr. High.
Catherine is survived by two daughters, Catherine Y. Norris Whitehead and Marcia A. Norris, two granddaughters, Kristin J. Whitehead and Dr. Julie K. Whitehead Streeter (Will), cousins, nieces and nephews.

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2016.10.07
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