Georgia Norling 1926-2024

In this realm of eternal light she joins her deceased husband, William A. Norling Jr (2019); and her eldest daughter, Dr. Laura Norling (1999); along with Laura’s husband, Mark Owen (2024).

Georgia was the youngest of nine children born to Italian immigrants Isolina and Cesare Amadio. They raised their family in Struthers, where Georgia grew up and attended Struthers High School. Following graduation, Georgia worked in various office positions, most notably at Stambaugh-Thompson, where she met Bill Norling, whom she married in 1950.

Georgia and Bill raised their family of six children in New Middletown. Georgia was a stay-at-home mom in the era before Pampers were invented. Daily chores and weekly housecleaning rituals created orderly rhythms of home life. She scrubbed diapers on a basement washboard, pressed out excess water through a hand crank ringer, then hung them to dry on the clothesline. Dreary as this may seem, Georgia brightened the domestic drudgery by listening to her favorite radio Bible teachers and singing Italian art song repertoire.

Whenever Georgia was in the house, there was music. She insisted that Bill buy her a piano before she would allow him to purchase their first black-and-white television. Her lyrical soprano voice was classically trained. Tunes of hymns and opera arias frequently floated from the basement laundry or the kitchen sink as she worked. She found joy in singing at church and occasionally performing with community choirs in holiday concerts.

Georgia was a terrific cook, with a particular talent for baking pies and cookies. When her daughters were quite young, she enlisted their help and soon there evolved an annual baking tradition: the legendary Christmas cookie bake-a-thon! Every Saturday afternoon from Thanksgiving till Christmas was devoted to mixing dough, baking and decorating cookies while listening to the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast. We still love those Christmas cookies and think they are the best!

Georgia was a devoted Christian wife and mother. She began each day on her knees praying for her family and studying her Bible. She and Bill were longtime members of Free Methodist Community Chapel (now Freedom Church) in New Middletown. Georgia taught Sunday school and helped to organize a midweek children’s Bible program. In her “empty-nest” years, she hosted a weekly coffee and Bible study fellowship with church friends and neighbors.

Georgia’s vibrant faith sustained her spirit through the physical and cognitive losses of aging. She was still reciting “The Lord’s Prayer” in Italian and singing her favorite hymns till her final breath was drawn.

Georgia outlived all of her siblings and most of her friends. She is survived by sons, William (Elaine), Samuel and Aaron Norling. Aaron’s abiding presence made it possible for her to remain in her home for all but the last 15 months. She is also survived by daughters, Susan (Hugo) Anderson and Helen (Mark) Noel. When Georgia required care outside the home, Helen lovingly shared every evening with Mom, watching her favorite game shows and assisting her with bedtime care.

In heaven Georgia will be praying every day for her five grandchildren and seven great-grandsons, Rachel Scott and Aaron Wasserman (parents of Nathan and Elliott), Melissa and Troy Haire, Dr. Matthew and Dr. Amy Owen (parents of Teddy), Leah and Mike Krohn (parents of Michael, Luca and Mason), and Mark and Rebekah Noel (parents of Huxton).

Calling hours for Georgia will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Clemente Funeral Home, 10170 Main St., New Middletown, followed by a 2 p.m. memorial service, officiated by Pastors Oliver and Emily Beans.

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