22 Thursday, September 26, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Jeannine
Marie Norris
(Frisch) – Dec.
1, 1935-Sept.
18, 2024
Jeannine
Marie Norris
(Frisch), 88,
was born in
Battle Creek
on Dec. 1,
1935, to Frank and Marie (Gilchrist)
Frisch (deceased).
She was preceded in death by her
older sister, Rosalyn “Dolly” Kelley,
and leaves behind her cousin
Susan Diamond (Gillem), who was
like a little sister to her. Aunt Helen
and Uncle Chuck Gillem (deceased)
were like her second parents.
She attended Ann J. Kellogg
Elementary School, where she met
her future husband, Jim Norris. At
the time, she was not impressed!
She attended W.K. Kellogg until
1950, then transferred to St. Philip
High School and graduated in 1954.
She was best known for her “walk,”
which got her into a great deal of
trouble with the nuns! Jeannine
then worked at Federal Life &
Casualty Insurance Company as a
secretary. Along the way, she met
Jim Norris again while “Cruising the
Gut.” This time she was impressed
and they were married on April
27, 1957. She left the insurance
agency in 1960 when she discov-
ered she would have her first child,
Jami Norris (Ann Skye). She had
two more daughters, Jeri Norris
and Juli Grattan (John), as well as
five grandchildren, Colin, Connor,
Lauren and Leslie Grattan, and
Hayley Skye, and many nieces,
nephews and grandnieces and
nephews.
She returned to work in 1975
when she took the position of 3rd
Floor Unit Clerk at Leila Hospital.
She loved working and made life-
long friends with many people there.
When Leila transitioned to Battle
Creek Health Systems, she moved
to the Insurance department. She
loved helping the employees and
making sure they were taken care
of.
After retiring from the hospital,
Jim and Jeannine bought a motor
home and traveled each winter
across Florida. In Sarasota, theymet a group of Kellogg retirees
dubbed the “Motor Home” crowd
and caravaned annually to places
such as Winter Haven, St Pete,
Ft. Lauderdale, Lake Okeechobee
and Texas before hanging up their
wheels to become full-time grand-
parents to Leslie. They remained
great friends with their traveling
cohorts, having a Tuesday breakfast
at Panera every week and many
other outings. Jeannine also had
lunch each month with the B.C.
Central class of ’54 and the Kellogg
Clean Up Crew until she was no
longer able.
Jim and Jeannine were happily
married 57 years until his death in
2014.
Jeannine’s eternal optimism, love
of family and friends, quick sense
of humor and all-around sweetness
made everyone she met fall in love
with her. After her diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s in 2014, she continued
to make friends everywhere she
went. When she could no longer
live alone, Jeannine stayed home
and was lovingly cared for by her
daughter Jeri. Although Alzheimer’s
eventually took her memories, it
did not take her spirit. She contin-
ued to live an active and happy life
until the end. She succumbed to
pneumonia on Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024, surrounded by her fam-
ily at home. She fought so hard to
beat Alzheimer’s, and right up to the
end, was giving instructions. Her
unending strength is an inspiration
to her friends and family.
A special thanks to Our Hearts,
Your Home (Formally In Home
Companions), Comprehensive
Medicine and the Kellogg 25 Year
Club, who made staying in her
home possible.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate
Jeannine’s life will be 11 a.m.,
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at St. Philip
Catholic Church. Interment will fol-
low at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct.
2, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation
Care. A Rosary Service will begin
at 5 p.m.
Memorial contributions may
be directed to the Alzheimer’s
Association. Personal messages for
the family may be placed at http://www.
farleyestesdowdle.com.BA TTLE CREEK
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