Norr, Carol (1940-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Jun 1 p. 6

Birth date: 1940 Aug 7

text of obituary:

Worker turned tasks into celebrations

Norr served in MCC and mission agency offices for 44 years

By Mennonite Mission Network staff

ELKHART, Ind. — Carol Norr, who worked in administration and finances during her 44 years with Mennonite agencies, made her tasks into celebration and sharing God's joy.

Nor, 68, of Berne, died May 12 in Swiss Village Retirement Community.

At Mennonite Mission Network, where she served from 1986 to 2008, her position receiving and processing donations to mission efforts gave her opportunities for frequent outbursts of exuberance.

At Mennonite Central Committee from 1964 to 1986, she was administrative assistant to executives at MCC's Akron, Pa., offices.

Stanley Green, MMN executive director, had an office near Norr.

"For many years, my concentration often was interrupted by the sound of a loud bell pealing, followed by Carol's excited voice announcing the receipt of [an] offering," he wrote. "I cannot count the number of small chocolate treats she would distribute to rejoice over a major gift . . . or the moments when she would lead development staff in celebratory dances down the hallways, complete with small rhythm instruments, when [donors'] generosity or a piece of correspondence seemed to require the most festive celebration possible."

At MMN, Norr used the donations and correspondence that crossed her desk as vehicles for creating relationships and providing encouragement. She encouraged her colleagues and faithful constituents, gave thanks to god, and recognized grace in her life and in others.

She wrote personalized messages on internal and external memos and letters and clipped stories from newspapers and magazines that involved donors and workers, often passing them to their subjects with notes of encouragement.

"All of us became accustomed to receiving Carol's notes in our mailbox, inked compliments attached to newspaper clippings or standing alone when she perceived us doing something she found particularly laudable," Green wrote.

"Hers was a ministry of encouragement, her buoyant positivity always praising god for the gifts we — and she — had received and are receiving."

Norr invested her energy behind the scenes to form and further connections for God's mission work among people she often had never met, Green said. her work bolstered mission without public acclaim.

Edgar Stoesz, past associate executive secretary of MCC, shard an office with Norr for two decades; she was Stoesz's assistant. He noted her total dedication to the work of the church— including actively in her congregation, where she often taught children's Sunday school — and the work of MCC.

"She cared about people, she cared about outcomes, and she was efficient," Stoesz said.

Nor retired in 2008 and moved from Goshen to Berne.

She was born Aug. 7, 1940, in Adams County, the daughter of Merlin and Trella (Liechty) Norr.

She was a member of North Goshen Mennonite Church and an associate member of First Mennonite Church of Berne.

While at MCC, she spent six months in India as part of an administrative assistant exchange.

She is survived by a brother, Paul Norr of Berne; two sisters, Marjorie Zurcher of Berne and Alice Myers of Huntington; and nieces and nephews.