Obituary of Norma L. Gohde

Norma Florence Larsen Gohde was born to Leo E and Florence A Larsen in Bloomfield NJ on June 6, 1926. She grew up and was educated in Queens, New York

City before returning to her beloved New Jersey in 1947.

Norma met her first life-long friend, Paulette, in an apartment building they temporarily shared. As they moved further apart they sometimes roller-skated to

meet each other. Jackson Heights was among her childhood homes. She was always proud of her New York City education, including the Regents exams that she claimed

kept her grades fair.

In 1944, she was accepted into the Cadet Nurse Corps program at Adelphia University. Here she met another dear friend, Marjie. Their friendship remained strong all their lives

through family visits and phone calls. While in nursing school, Norma’s parents bought a house and moved to Dover, NJ – next door to a small farm owned by Alex and Anna Gohde

who had a son named Fred.

Fred and Norma married on Valentine’s Day 1947, in a small family wedding, but kept the marriage secret until Norma graduated. The couple spent three months investigating

possible homes throughout the country before returning to New Jersey. They moved around a bit at first including Trenton, Dover, and Denville before settling into their home in Cedar

Knolls on Frederick Place.

In 1954, the now family of four joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Morris Plains. Here Norma met Dorothy Svoboda, also a registered nurse. A strong also life-long friendship quickly

developed – families included.

Norma worked full time as a registered nurse until she started her family. Part-time positions later kept her involved in the field in which she excelled and loved.

After 62 years in Cedar Knolls, she moved about for her last 6 years – 6 months with each daughter, 2 years at Colonial Manor, and 3 at The House of Good Shepherd. At

each space, she nested in and made friends -- especially her most recently-acquired special friend Ruth.

Norma is survived by her daughter, Patricia Cunningham (and son-in-law Jay, grandson Christopher, granddaughter-in-law Sherie, great granddaughter Samantha, great grandson

Alexander, granddaughter Lisa, great granddaughters Laci & Anna, great grandson Austin) and son James (and daughter-in law Betsy and grandson Michael), and a son-in-law Steve

Frei (and grandson Patrick and granddaughter-in-law Carrie). Her husband Fred, son Thomas, and daughter Nancy Frei predeceased her.