Karen Ann Norton

Karen A. Norton, 87, of Chicago, a longtime Earlville resident, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Terraces skilled nursing facility in Chicago. On that day, their 63rd wedding anniversary, she rejoined Don, the love of her life.

Karen Ann McCormick was born on May 6, 1938, in Ottawa, Illinois, the second of Clarence and Eileen McCormick’s four children. Karen grew up on her family’s farm east of Grand Ridge, Illinois. As children, she and her siblings attended a one-room country school house (for grades 1 through 8). Like all farm children, she had assigned chores. She did not like feeding the chickens, but she loved growing plants, which would be a lifelong passion. She attended and graduated from Marquette High School in Ottawa, and was proud to be a Crusader. During her junior and senior years, she lived in Ottawa, returning to the family farm for the weekends. This was her first taste of the “big city”.

After high school, Karen attended Mount St. Clare College in Clinton, Iowa, graduating with an associate degree. She soon moved to an even bigger city – Chicago – where she worked at Wesley Memorial Hospital as an administrative assistant. To earn extra money, she also did some part-time modeling. Karen loved the big city’s excitement, including its fashion and restaurants.

On a weekend back in LaSalle County, she met Barbara Norton O’Donnell, while both were bridesmaids in a mutual friend’s wedding. Barb, upon learning that this beautiful, single country girl lived in Chicago, asked Karen if she could give Karen’s phone number to her handsome, single lawyer brother Don, originally from Earlville, but also living in Chicago. Karen agreed. After several weeks (or months, depending on who was telling the story), Don finally called Karen, and they fell in love on their first date. Karen’s roommates were not so sure about this prematurely gray young man in his tweed jacket, but Karen thought “he was ungodly handsome”.

They both enjoyed the big city life. But Don soon moved back to LaSalle County to accept a position with the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Karen soon followed. On October 6, 1962, they were married at Karen’s home parish, St. Mary’s Church in Grand Ridge. Within two years, they had a family of five, welcoming their sons George (Bill) and twins Matthew and Michael. They moved to Don’s hometown of Earlville, where he opened his own law practice.

In 1971, they built a new, large brick home on Ottawa Street in Earlville. Karen, who had no formal design training, had great taste, which showed in the design and furnishings of her beautiful home and garden. Karen loved her life in Earlville. Her biggest joy was taking care of her husband and sons, and later her grandchildren. Her Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and celebrations were always greatly enjoyed by her family.

When they retired in 1991, she and Don enjoyed their retirement, wintering in Longboat Key, Florida and visiting their children and grandchildren. In 2014, over 50 years after they met there, Karen and Don moved from Earlville back to Chicago to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Karen and Don were inseparable for over 60 years and loved each other deeply; it was fitting that Karen passed away on what would have been their 63rd wedding anniversary.

Karen was kind-hearted, loving, compassionate, stylish, and an excellent piano player and singer. She had no “poker face”. You knew from her face whether she was happy or sad, and nothing lit her happy face up like seeing and talking to her grandchildren – she adored them.

Karen was a devout Catholic and her faith was unshakable. When her son Michael died tragically, at his visitation, well-wishers told her “it’s okay to be angry at God”. Karen’s response: “No, we are not angry at God. Mike was a wonderful gift from God, and we are thankful that we had him as long as we did.” Her faith and humility set an example for us all. Karen was a loyal member of the St. Theresa of Avila Church in Earlville and its Altar & Rosary Society for many years. Their Chicago home was two blocks from Holy Name Cathedral, and Karen enjoyed visiting that beautiful building.

She is survived by her sons George William and Matthew (Christine Anderson, who she loved like a daughter), her grandchildren Sophia, Charles, and Gabriel Norton, her sister Gail Guilfoile, her brother William McCormick, and over 40 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Terrance McCormick, and her beloved son Michael. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A funeral mass will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, October 13, 2025, at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 221 W. Union St, Earlville, Illinois, with Father Joseph Domfe officiating. Visitation will also be at the church, preceding the funeral mass, from 10:00 to 12:00 noon. Burial will follow the funeral mass at St. Theresa cemetery. A luncheon will then follow at the St. Theresa parish hall and all are invited to attend. For more information or to sign the online guest book please go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com

Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home

P.O. Box 808

Earlville, IL 60518

815-246-6491