Norma DiMassimo Connor

1932 - 2025

Norma DiMassimo Connor, 92 of Pittsfield, passed away peacefully at Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility on August 25, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Pittsfield on December 14, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Biagio and Fausta Gregory DiMassimo. Norma graduated from Dalton High School in 1950. She then attended Boston University, College of General Studies in 1950 and graduated with an Associate in Arts degree. Furthering her education, she transferred to Tufts University to study Early Childhood Education at the Eliot Pearson School and in 1954, she graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She later earned a Master's Equivalency at North Adams State College while teaching full time.

Norma began her teaching career at Dawes School in Pittsfield teaching Kindergarten from 1954 to 1956. In 1956 she took time off to have her three children and later returned to teach Kindergarten in Pittsfield from 1960 to 1966. The family moved from Pittsfield to Dalton in 1966 and Norma taught first grade at Craneville School from 1966 until 1987. Upon her retirement Norma received a letter from the school district awarding her credit for some of the years she was forced to take off while she was pregnant. Norma retired from teaching in December of 1987 and joked that she never graduated from first grade. Prior to her death, Norma told her family that she wanted to make sure that people knew how much she loved teaching and was often heard saying how much she missed it.

Before retiring Norma purchased a condo in Lauderhill, Florida and moved there after retirement in January of 1988. She later moved to Dania Beach, Florida in 1995 where she bought a condo at Chateau DeVille. She was president of the Chateau DeVille homeowner's association for six years. She was also a member of Little Flower Church in Hollywood, Florida, and joined the Catholic Woman's Club at the church in 1996. For the next two years, she served as vice president and then became president for ten years of the Catholic Woman's Club. She also served as Treasurer of the Friends of the Dania Library and served from 1997 to 2005. She moved to Meadowbrook Lakes Condo in Dania Beach in 2002, and became Secretary on the Board of Directors and care of rental and sales in her building. In addition, she took great pride in serving as president of the Dania Woman's Club from 2005 to 2013 where she worked tirelessly arranging flea markets and fashion shows to raise money for college scholarships for young women. She was also a member of the Dania Lions Club, proudly wore her purple vest, and enjoyed their monthly dinners and meetings.

Norma loved shopping, especially on QVC. She was truly one of the original avid QVC customers and had packages delivered to her home regularly long before the popularization of Amazon. She was a regular customer of T.J. Maxx and never left the store without some type of great bargain. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins and attended many Marlins baseball games with her daughter Kathy while living in Florida. Norma enjoyed playing bingo in Dalton and Pittsfield for many years while working and attended weekly bingo games in Florida. She loved cooking and her go to dishes were homemade sauce and meatballs as well as lasagna. She was also a member of the Pittsfield College Club Gourmet group for many years.

She is survived by her children Kathleen L. Connor of Ashville, NC, Bonnie C. Galant and husband Garfield of Pittsfield, and Shaun P. Connor and wife Nancy of Dalton. Two grandchildren, Patrick Connor, Elizabeth Connor-Whalen, as well as Elizabeth's husband Kyle. She is also survived by her dear cousin, Deanna White, who was more like a little sister to her. She was predeceased by her parents, and sisters, Luisa DiMassimo and Dina Quirk.

The family would like to thank the incredible staff of Mount Greylock Extended Care Facility especially the nurses and aides in the North Unit. During her 8 month stay, Norma received exceptional, loving care, and kept the staff laughing despite her speech limitations caused by Primary Progressive Aphasia. The Mt. Greylock staff are truly angels. Thank you is not enough to say for the wonderful and personal attention they provided.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral home services will be held, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, celebrated by Rev. Brian McGrath, Pastor of St. Agnes Church. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours will precede the service from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the following organizations: Home Instead Dementia Day Program; Pittsfield Senior Center Supportive Day Program; or Mt. Greylock ECF Activities Fund. Donations may be mailed to Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.