Deferiet - Norma Backus Mullen


Norma Irene Backus Mullen, 88, of 47 Anderson Ave., quietly joined her son, David, in the arms of angels on Thursday evening, May 31, 2012, in the Community Hospice Care Center, Jacksonville, Florida with her family at her side.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, June 7th at 10:30 a.m. at St Rita's Catholic Church in Deferiet with Father Garvin Demarias presiding. The family will receive guests one hour before the service at the church. A private interment will be held after services at Black River Cemetery.

Norma was born in Deferiet on December 6, 1923, daughter of Alice and Delbert Backus and granddaughter of Cora and Albert Backus. Norma attended Deferiet Elementary (The Little Red Schoolhouse), graduated from Carthage High School in 1941 and continued her education as a graduate of Watertown School of Commerce. She was a member of St. Rita's Catholic Church, where she and Edward were married on October 4, 1947. Norma and Ed retired from St. Regis Paper Mill where Norma worked for 30 years in the accounting office in Deferiet. She was a devoted employee and cherished all of her friendships.

She is survived by Ed, her loving husband; daughter, Julie Mullen Howell (Bryan) ; granddaughter, Laura Rose Howell of Atlanta; sister Helen Backus Kobelski of Connecticut, and several nieces and nephews.
Norma is preceded in death by her son David; parents Alice and Delbert, who lived in Deferiet; and brothers Bruce, Leon and Willard Backus.

The family requests that memorials be made to the St Rita's Church in care of Father Garvin Demarias, 31 Riverside Drive, Deferiet, NY 13628. Arrangements are with the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, Carthage.