Sr. M. Esther Norton

WINDHAM -- Sister M. Esther (Constance) Norton, 80, a Sister of Mercy for 60 years, died Sept. 9, 2008, after a brief illness.

A native of East Boston, Mass., she was the daughter of William and Ellen (Denning) Norton.

She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in education from Mount Saint Mary College, Hooksett.

For 40 years she was a teacher at Catholic elementary schools in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California. In New Hampshire , she taught at St. Raphael and St. Catherine schools in Manchester; St. Mary, Claremont; and St. Patrick, Portsmouth.

From 1988 until 1994, she was a case manager at Elder Services of Merrimack Valley in Lawrence, Mass. She then became a paralegal and senior aide, and later assistant to the director, at the Newbury (Mass.) Council on Aging.

In June 1998, she received the Senior Aide Community Service Award from Elder Services of Merrimack Valley-Newbury Council on Aging.

From 2000 until her retirement, she served as office assistant at Prime Time in Manchester.

Family members include Claire Norton of East Boston; Sister Denise Bourgeois of Manchester ; a niece, Ellen Hattan of Texas; a nephew, Jack Griffin of East Boston ; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

SERVICES: Calling hours are Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham. A prayer service will follow in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, Sisters of Mercy in Windham, at 6 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford.

Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, PO Box 420, Windham 03087-0420.

Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, is handling the arrangements (www.douglasandjohnson.com).