Norma Jean (Brown) Giardina

Norma Jean Giardina, nee Brown, age 86, resident of the Village of Middlefield, Ohio, died on August  8, 2021 after a short illness.  Norma was the daughter of the late Paul and Pearl Brown of Greenville PA.  Norma graduated in 1952 from Penn High in Greenville, PA, where she was a head majorette.  On January 29, 1957, she married Robert “Bob” Giardina and moved to Middlefield, Ohio in 1959.  There, they raised their four children Paul, Diane, Bob and Mark and resided until her death.  Norma was active in starting the St. Lucy parish, her family being one of the founding families.  In her younger adult years, she was a member of the Middlefield Garden Club and headed up the concession stand at the Marcu ballpark for the little league teams.  Later, Norma was a bus aid for East Shore for many years transporting children with disabilities.   Norma enjoyed country western dancing, skiing, and camping across the United States.  Later in life she loved to go on cruises to the Caribbean and traveled to Europe many times with her family.  Her last trip was on May 13, 2018, a pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes.  Norma had many friends who would meet monthly to play Pinnacle and socialize.  Some friends, Rose Evans, Mona Trybus, Ethel Selby, Ginny Davis, Barb Harrison, Chris Hipply and the late Nina Marcu later formed the “Mermaids”, as they affectionately called themselves to swim daily and exercise.  The group later expanded to include many more lifelong friends.  She enjoyed this up to the fall of 2020.  Norma’s life was focused around her faith in God, love for her family and strong bonds with her friends.

Norma is preceded in death by her parents Paul Rexford Brown and Pearl Elizabeth McCoy Brown, and her daughter-in-law Laura Giardina.  She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert F Giardina, her four children, Paul (Dena) Giardina of Middlefield, Diane (Mike) McGehean of North Myrtle Beach, SC, Bob Giardina of Germantown, TN, and Mark (Karen) Giardina of Novelty, Ohio.  Norma had eight grandchildren, Nick Giardina, Matthew Giardina, Mia Giardina, Samantha (McGehean) Santos, Megan (McGehean )Parrish, Michael McGehean, Rachel Giardina and Robert Giardina, and three great grandchildren Daphne Giardina, Beau Parrish, and Raleigh Parrish.  Norma is also survived by her two sisters who she loved Shirley (Bud) Myers and Paula (Jim) Brumbaugh.

A Catholic Mass will be held Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 10:00 am at St Lucy’s Parish, 16280 Kinsman Rd, Middlefield, OH 44062. Norma will be buried at the Middlefield Cemetery.  Lunch will follow at St Lucy’s Hall to celebrate Norma's life.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to St Lucy’s Parish, at SS. Edward & Lucy Parish, P.O. Box 709, Parkman, Ohio 44080, or to your favorite animal rescue