Obituary of Norma E. Totaro

Norma E Totaro, 87, of Rome, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019 at Bethany Gardens after a long illness. She was born in Rome on April 25, 1932, the oldest daughter of Michael and Angeline (Cortese) Pomilio. On September 3, 1951 she married Robert ("Bob") Totaro in St John the Baptist church. He passed away on September 13, 2002. In her early career Norma was employed by Rome Cable as a secretary, then spent several years working at Griffiss Air Force Base, before working at Rome City Hospital in the Billing Department, from where she retired. Norma volunteered at the Rome City Hospital in the Hemlock Twig. She thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people, spending time with her family and friends, and was dearly fond of her pets and all animals. Norma was a member of St John the Baptist Church. Surviving are two daughters and sons- in-law, Lauri (Jeff) Getbehead of Rome, and Michele (Jim) Sheehan of Potsdam, NY; seven grandchildren whom she loved and cherished, Kimberly (Adam) Blecker of Flanders, NJ, Robert (Jill) Schafer of Boonville, James D Schafer of Rome, Jessica (Salvattore) Carlotto of Dallas, TX, Nick (Hilary) Sheehan of Potsdam, Lindsay (Thomas) Gies of Park City, UT, Jed Sheehan of Salt Lake City, UT; and seven great grandchildren Aiden and Anna Blecker, Carson and Preston Schafer, Rocco Carlotto, and Stella and James N Sheehan; one sister, Geraldine Conniff of McConnellsvile, NY; and dear friend James G Schafer. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob, and a sister, Sylvia Crouch Messenger. A Memorial Mass will be held at St John the Baptist Church on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Abe Esper officiating. The family will receive friends at church from 10:00 am to 11:00 am prior to the Mass. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions in Norma's memory may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, or the Rome Humane Society, P.O. Box 4572, Rome, NY 13440. Arrangements are by the Nicholas J Bush Funeral Home, Inc. 7751 Merrick Rd, Rome. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.