Bro. Edmund Normantowicz, M.S.

Brother Edmund A. Normantowicz, 76 , a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, died April 24, 2024  at Hartford House in Hartford, Connecticut.  He was born November 20, 1947 in Westfield, Massachusetts, son of the late Edmund and Elaine (Fox) Normantowicz, Sr.  He entered the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Novitiate in Ipswich, MA on March 14, 1967. He made his First Profession of Vows on May 1, 1968 and his Perpetual Profession of Vows on May 1, 1971.

Brother Ed’s first appointment was to work in Administration in Bloomfield, CT.  He went on to work at the La Salette Seminary in Altamont, NY and Cheshire, CT on Seminary Aid.  In 1977, he was assigned to Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur, LA.  In 1980, he attended the La Salette Theologate in Maplewood, MO, to pursue studies for the Permanent Diaconate and was ordained a Deacon on April 30, 1983.  He worked for several years at the La Salette residence in St. Louis, MO, where he was the Assistant in the Seminary Aid Society and the Mission Office.  In addition to these duties, Brother Ed also worked with deaf and handicapped children at the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf in Missouri.  He assisted at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur, LA in 1977 and then at Our Lady of La Salette, also in Sulphur.  While there, he served as Youth Director, Religious Education, worked with Altar Servers, directed YES retreats and was a chaplain for the sheriff’s office.  In 1987, he was appointed as Child Care Worker at Marygrove Residential Care in St. Louis, and was Assistant Provincial Director of Vocations.  In 1988, he was a member of a committee working on the concept of a Mission Service Team.  He became a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Arthur in 1990 and was named as the Area Vocation Contact Person to assist the Province Vocation Office in the Louisiana area in 1992.  Brother Ed was a member of the Province Spirituality Commission for several years and also worked on the Province Vocation Committee.  In 1999, he was appointed as Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph Parish in Fitchburg, MA; and in 2002, he worked as Pastoral Associate at Mary Queen Parish in Friendswood, TX.  In 2003, Brother Normantowicz moved to Hartford House in Hartford, CT and continued his work with Vocations.  In addition to all of these accomplishments, he also created the “La Salette Newsletter”, a monthly newsletter on the work and activities of the Province members.

Brother Ed’s greatest joy was working with the youth wherever he ministered.  He was once quoted as saying: “I enjoy being a brother because it enables me to relate better to young people.  I can serve others and be a part of their families in a positive way.”  Another quote of his, “I feel that God sent me to the young people so that they could renew in me the zest and spirit to live my religious commitments to the best of my ability.”  He also loved spreading the joy of being a La Salette by publishing a calendar with an interview of a La Salette for each month.

In addition to his La Salette confreres, Brother Normantowicz is survived by his sister, Melanie Rouvellet and her husband, Robert of Bullhead City, AZ; his nieces Jillian Zumwalp of Enfield, CT and Kate Rouvellat of Agawam, MA.  He was predeceased by his nephew Christopher R. Rouvellat.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated on Monday, April 29, 2024, at the La Salette Chapel, Hartford, CT at 10:30 AM.  Burial will be at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT.  Calling hours will be at Hartford House, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford on Monday, April 29, 2024 from 9:15 to 10:15 AM.  Contributions in his memory may be made to:  Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 331370, West Hartford, CT 06133.