Norma Degreenia

Norma (Cushman) Degreenia, 69, St. Johnsbury, Vt passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Norma was born on May 19, 1954 the youngest daughter of Charles and Anita (Mosher) Cushman.  She grew up on Bible Hill with her eight siblings. On August 9, 1969 she married Leslie Degreenia and they raised their family down the road from the farmhouse she grew up in.  

In the early years of their marriage, Norma was a stay at home mom lacing shoes and making wreaths. Once her girls were in school, she started working as an assistant librarian and assistant cook at the Center School and in the kitchen at the St. Johnsbury Middle School.  Later, she went to work at North Country Vending working side by side with her mother in law, Gloria Gray along with other family members.  She started as an assistant cook ending as the kitchen manager.

Norma and Leslie enjoyed traveling in their motorhome. They traveled out west several times and were always excited to share the adventure when they returned.  For over 20 years, they were avid black powder shooters.  It took a little convincing to get Norma to try competing too but once she did she loved it. They traveled to NH, VT, NY and Maine competing.  Norma was the VT and NH Ladies Champion for 5 or 6 years straight.  They met many friends through this passion and a few would hold their own personal black powder competitions at their homes.  It was at one of these shoots “Taos Trek” that Norma beat everyone including their friend who was the  Vermont State Champion of that same year. He said he had never been beaten by a woman before.   Leslie said he had to be careful if he didn’t want to lose to her.  They passed this passion down through the generations and she enjoyed watching her great grandson compete at the Trappers Rendezvous in Barton.  Norma and Leslie hosted the Bible Hill Black Powder Shoot for many years, always in October.  They would set up their teepee and campsite and their friends would come for the weekend to share in a little friendly competition.  Norma and Les would make all their clothing for the 1800’s era.  She was a great seamstress and leather crafter.   Later in years, Leslie opened Bible Hill Taxidermy and Norma was his assistant. She helped skin the animals, tan the hides, sew any holes in the hides before mounting the animals on the forms later helping with the finish work.  There was not anything she couldn’t do.

Norma’s family was the most important thing in the world to her.  She was a model of strength and honesty and always spoke her mind. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her family and she will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Leslie Degreenia; daughters, Julie Dixon and Shelly (Jeff) Smith; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Skye) Smith, Chelsea (Kathleen) Rodrigue; Dakota Smith, Hailey Dixon and Kingston Smith; great grandchildren, Jeffrey Smith III, Paytynn Smith; Haizley Gagnon; sisters, Sandra Locklin and MaryJean Lawrence; brother, George Cushman; her in laws, Sylvia (Gilman) LaCourse, Marge (Mike) Carter, Rachel (Frenchie) Demers, Judy (David) Allard, Keith Gray;  many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents; her grandson, Jonas Dixon and great granddaughter, Amora Rodrigue; brothers, James Cushman, Charles (Pat) Cushman Sr, Jerry (Judy) Cushman, Ken Cushman; a sister, Shirley Aldrich; her mother in law, Gloria Gray; brother in law, Kyle Gray and Duane Locklin.

Visiting hours will take place on Friday, March 29, 2024 from 5-7pm at the Guibord Funeral Home, 15 Main Street, Lyndonville, VT.  A spring burial will be on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2pm at the St. Johnsbury Center Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.guibordfh.com.