Norma Friedman

Norma Friedman Centenarian, grew up in Tottenville and had landmark store named Mary's there for many years Norma Friedman (nee Grodzinsky), of Manalapan New Jersey, former long time resident of Tottenville, passed away 8/23/2021 at the home of her son. She celebrated her 100th birthday last December. Norma was born in Tulsa Oklahoma and brought by her parents to Perth Amboy as a small child. Soon after they moved to Tottenville and opened a store named Marys, after her mother. Norma grew up in Tottenville, graduating from PS 1 and then Tottenville High School in 1936. She enjoyed swimming at the outer beach and the point with her sisters and friends, and enjoyed telling of her adventures swimming from Tottenville to Perth Amboy and back. When her parents retired she and her husband, Irving, on his return from the Pacific after WWII, owned and operated Mary's and even until recently spoke of how much they enjoyed working with the people of the Tottenville community for the next 40 years. They retired to a senior community in Manalapan in 1985. She was predeceased by her husband Irving in 2004, three sons who died in infancy, parents Louis and Miriam Grodzinsky, and her sisters Bella (Seidenbaum) and Mildred (Frishberg). She is survived by her son Bernard of Cliffside Park NJ, daughter Harriet Friedman-Wilson of West Brighton, grandchildren Matt and Melinda (George), great grandson Benjamin, nieces and nephews. Burial will be at Baron Hirsch Cemetery, Graniteville, August 25, 2021.