Norma Oakes Saxton

Norma O. Saxton, 95, a resident of the Springhill Senior Living Facility in Erie, PA, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025, in the ForestView Health Care Center at Springhill.

She was born on December 5, 1929, in Kossuth, PA (Clarion County) to Walter and Bernice (Beals) Oakes.

As a young child, she lived in the Kossuth area, and later an area known as Columbia Farm where she attended Rynd Farm School. This was a one-room schoolhouse for grades 1-8. She graduated from Cranberry High School (Venango County) in 1947, and then Oil City Nursing School in 1950. Upon graduation she did private duty nursing, worked in medical and surgical departments and lastly became Head Nurse in the Nursery of Oil City Hospital.

In 1962, she married widower Sidney Saxton and became full-time mother to David and Carol. Sid and Norma later had a daughter, Pamela. The family relocated from Oil City, PA to Erie in 1967.

As children grew, Norma worked in Obstetrics and Nursery at Millcreek Community Hospital. Later, she worked at Wicks N Sticks, a candle and gift store in the Millcreek Mall, for about 10 years, until she and Sid began spending winter months in Florida with long-time friends. In addition to travel, she enjoyed spending time with grandchildren as well as knitting, reading, puzzles, and visiting lighthouses. Norma and Sid moved to Springhill in 2013. She enjoyed her friends at Springhill very much.

Norma was preceded in death by husband Sidney in 2020, and a brother Ronald Oakes. She is survived by Carol (Jack) Spinelli of Grand Junction, Colo; David (Debbie) Saxton of Erie; and Pamela (Bud) Urso of Erie. Also, grandchildren Jonathan Kowalczyk of Arlington, VA; Matthew Spinelli of Sedona, AZ; Jennifer (Frank) Stepleton of Helena, MT; Marissa (Justin) MacDonald of Erie; and Jordan Urso of Dallas, TX. Also, great-grandchildren Bayley, Riley, Harvey and Ethan MacDonald, and Lydia Stepleton.

At the request of the family, donations may be made to the Springhill Associate Appreciation Fund at Springhill, 2323 Edinboro Rd, Erie, PA 16509.

The family is very grateful for the wonderful love, care, and friendship over the years by the entire Springhill family.

No services are planned at this time.