Edinburg-area residents were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Norma Porteus, known for her creativity, kindness, hard work and devotion to many causes — and of course her longevity.
Norma died Dec. 31, just a few days shy of her 107th birthday. Among her many activities, was her involvement with the Edinburg Historical Society as a member, lifetime trustee, officer and guest speaker.
According to her obituary with the Northville Funeral Home, she was born Audrey Norma McKittrick on on Jan. 11, 1919 in Amsterdam, N.Y. She married Charles Porteus and they settled in Edinburg in 1950, living on North Shore Road. He died in the early 1970s.
According to the obituary, the couple ran a pub and a seasonal trailer resort in the area. She was a member of the senior citizens group, volunteered with the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN) where she was a featured artist and volunteered at the Northville Public Library.
Many of her activities continued well beyond her 90s: bowling, walking and yoga are just some examples.
On the occasion of Norma’s 100th birthday, former Edinburg Town Historian Priscilla Edwards composed an article for the Edinburg Newsletter looking back on her life. It noted a love of roller skating, the color purple, movie houses and candy — and walking to school in all kinds of weather.
“She is humble, direct and kind,” Priscilla wrote. “One only has to spend a few moments with Norma to see what a great sense of humor she maintains. Norma never sought out to change the world, only to make her world a better place, but in doing so she has modeled for us what it means to love, have passion for, and live in Edinburg.”
The Porteus’ cabins were a welcome stop for many visitors. Norma herself made the furniture for the cabins, including built-in beds and dressers.
In the month when she turned 100, SVAN honored her art with a reception, and noted that she started her photography at age 15 with a Brownie camera gifted to her by an aunt.
She was also honored at a Tuesday Morning League at Arterial Lanes in Gloversville. State Sen. Jim Tedisco honored her in person with a State Senate Commendation Award, noting her “very positive impact on the community.”
She also spoke at length with Edinburg Historical Society members in May 2019, recalling details of her life with amazing clarity, the EHS newsletter noted. As a 9-year-old she was convinced that there were all kinds of monsters in the Sacandaga River and “still, to the present day, she remains wary of the deep water at the Great Sacandaga Lake.”
When she turned 103, during the pandemic, the community organized a parade for her that passed by the SVAN gallery in Northville where she stood on the porch. The Daily Gazette of Schenectady ran a story on Norma’s 106th as she celebrated her special day at the Rusty Nail in Clifton Park, noting her enjoyment of mild and garlic parmesan chicken wings and a cup of cranberry juice.
She was grand marshal of a recent Northville parade.
In the words of Priscilla Edwards upon her 100th birthday: “Life has many paths and we are very blessed that the path for Norma Porteus has made its way into the Edinburg community.”
It’s a sentiment that will ring true well beyond these years.
Northville Funeral Service will be the site of a celebration of Norma’s life in July, according to her obituary.
The Edinburg Historical Society 