A Celebration of Life for Norma Philbrook, age 92, who passed gently away on April 3, 2020, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 1 - 3 p.m., at the home of Alan Philbrook, on 43 Broad Cove Lane, in Owls Head. We will be outside and ask that people bring their own chair and wear a mask. Light refreshments will be served.

To share a memory or condolence with the Philbrook family, visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com.

OWLS HEAD – Leaving wonderful memories behind, Norma Bartlett Philbrook, age 92, the wife of the late Robert J. Philbrook, passed gently away at the Sussman House in Rockport, on April 3, 2020.

Born March 27, 1928 in Rockport, she was the daughter of Ruth and William Bartlett.  Her siblings JoAnne and Robert predeceased her, as did her beloved grandmother, Bertha Bartlett with whom she lived periodically during her childhood.

After graduating from Rockport High School, where she was on the basketball team, and was class president, she began working at Knox General Hospital as a dietary technician, and it was there that a smitten young Robert J. Philbrook, met her.  She married him when she was 19, and their marriage lasted 53 years until his passing in 2000.

Mom and Dad had four children, William (Bill) of Washington, Maine; Alan (Loopie), Jane Newcomb and husband Fred, Jimmy and wife Suzanne, all of Owls Head. 

Much to Mom’s delight, her house was always full of children.  She brought other children in over the years, and then came her 13 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.  She had a special way with kids.  They would quickly turn her house upside down, both upstairs and down, and she wouldn’t bat an eye.  They all loved to visit their Nannie and were the apples of her eye.

Mom taught Sunday School, youth groups, 4-H Club, and Cub Scouts.  She was a lifetime member of the Univ. of Maine Women’s Extension, served on the SAD 5 School Board, was a member of the Owls Head Garden Club, a docent at the Knox Mansion, and many civic groups.

Her homemaking skills were admirable.  She did not like to cook but was the consummate hostess.  Until recently, her friends gathered weekly at her house for a Bible Study.  In earlier years, she opened her busy, inviting kitchen to the neighborhood for coffee times.  For many years her big kitchen was home of the first local food cooperative.  Her house was always decorated according to the holidays; Christmas being especially loved by her ever growing family.

Her talents were many.  She was a seamstress, sewing dance costumes, prom and bridesmaid dresses and clothing for her family.  Anything with a needle kept her very quick and skillful hands busy.  She was the owner of “My Dolly Hospital” where people brought their injured dolls in for repair.  She replaced hair, limbs, and eyes, and sent her patients home in beautiful new outfits.  And of course, she was Dad’s favorite secretary for his business endeavors.

Her children are thankful for having an interesting mother.  Although her house was always in order and clean, she still found time to delve into history, reading and collecting relics from the past.  She enjoyed antique bottle hunting with her mother all over Knox County, children along with her.

Mom and Dad took us and our friends on many out of state trips, and later she and Dad would go “cramping” as Dad called it, all over the country and Canada, in their camper, sometimes with Joyce and Charlie of the Good Sam’s Club.  Summer days were spent at the little beach down the hill, with a picnic lunch and kids in tow, with her friend Vera, and summer friends, Marilyn and June.

A longtime member of the First Baptist Church and Owls Head Baptist Church, she brought us all up to love the Lord.  Her walk with God, and kindness to shut-ins, set a steadfast example for us to follow.

She will be missed by many friends, her children, grandchildren and spouses; Joshua (Tamar), Amy (Alden), Jason (Allison), Adam (Tayler), Annah (Aaron), Micah (Claire), Abbie (Tim), Jacob, Jesse, Jessica, Cassie (Damian), Justin (Emily), Rachel (Cadden), and “adopted” grandchildren Cameron, Hope & Peter; great-grandchildren Sydney, Madeline, Lily, Will, Olivia, Beatrice, Record, Emma, Naomi, Raya, Yarik, Kolya, Ava, Levi, Abram, Nadya, Isabel, Josiah, Caleb, Evelyn, Sadie, Abel, Lucy, Ruth, Maizie, Ben, Henry, DeAndre, Mason, Caravela, Camille, and Lilianna.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her wonderful caregivers: Denise, Shelia, and Dolly and her close neighbors, Joyce, Ron, Richie and Debbie for taking such good care of her.  

Due to the coronavirus, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.  Condolences, memories and stories may be shared on Norma’s Book of Memories at www.bchfh, where a video celebrating her life may be viewed.

In lieu of flowers, which she loved, gifts may be given in her memory to Care Net Crisis Pregnancy Center, 462 Old County Rd., Rockland, ME 04841 or the Owls Head Fire Department, 355 North Shore Drive, Owls Head, ME 04854.   Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.