Norma Leslie Austin

Norma Leslie Austin

RUSHFORD - Norma Leslie Austin, a former resident of 9727 Brookside Road, passed away Monday (Sept. 5, 2022) in Olean, after a long illness.

She was born Jan. 31, 1933, in Buffalo, the eldest of six children of the late Leslie and Norma Burtch Springer. On June 14, 1952, she married Wesley Richard Austin, who predeceased her June 9, 2017. They were married 65 years.

Norma was a city girl who became a multi-skilled farmer's wife at age 19. She made maple syrup, unloaded hay wagons and drove lambs to the kosher market for Easter. She was an able assistant for milking, gardening and raised chickens for her own egg enterprise.

She went to college as an adult, attending Houghton and Geneseo, and taught third grade at Fillmore Central School for many years. If she was your teacher, you may remember her making each student a pair of mittens that matched their coat, the annual Thanksgiving dinner at school, lifesaver books and sledding at recess.

Norma was a long-time member of the Rushford Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday and Vacation Bible School. She worked many church dinners and was a great supporter of the food bank.

Surviving are her children, Cynthia McCullough and Michael (Linda) Austin; her grandchildren, Brenda (Justin) Eddy, Wesley (Andrea) Austin Jr., Julie (Chris) Bastian and Monica (Tom Kicior) McCullough; her great-grandchildren, Christopher and Andrew Claxton, Emily Elliott, Emily Bastian, Kenzley and James Austin; three special nieces, Susan A., Barbara C. and Linda G. S.; her siblings, Kathy Worthington, Diann Springer and Olivia Seeber; a brother-in-law, Kevin Quealy; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, James Austin; a daughter-in-law, Frieda Austin; a son-in-law, Charles McCullough; a sister, Marjorie Quealy; and a brother, Jack Springer.

A gathering of friends and family will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday (Sept. 9, 2022) in Freedom Cemetery, where a graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. Rev. Bruce Smith, pastor of the Higgins Wesleyan Church, will officiate.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Kopler-Williams Funeral Home, 21 N Genesee St., Fillmore.