NORMA JABLON

Norma Jablon, age 93, passed away April 9 in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. She died peacefully without illness having lived a long and fulfilled glorious life.

Norma grew up in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, daughter of Paul and Rose Perlis, where she received a Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in biology. After marrying Milton Jablon and moving to Oceanside, New York, they resettled in Harrisburg in 1961 with their three children Larry, Andy, and Lori.

Norma embraced the quieter life of Harrisburg and immersed herself in the Jewish community as president of Hadassah. In her 50s she returned to college to Shippensburg where she received a Master’s degree in social work. Norma could easily be described as a renaissance woman. She had many varied interests including painting, extensive reading, music, bridge, golf, tennis, and travel. She travelled with over 20 Elderhostel programs all over the world. Within the Jewish community she organized bus trips for theater and music to New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Her friends were numerous.

She served as the Beth El Temple librarian and read stories to numerous young children there. Complaining was not in her vocabulary. If something needed to be done, she did it. Her life was long and fulfilling with no regrets. The Jewish community of Harrisburg was made stronger by her.

Norma had a best friend growing up, Annette Perlof, who sat right behind her in alphabetical order in many classes from kindergarten all the way through Brooklyn College. Annette shared that Norma was very social and popular with many boyfriends. When they were in college they pledged a popular sorority on campus. Norma was accepted and Annette was not. Norma did not join it because of that and they found another organization together.

Norma will be missed by her brother (Sy) Tiny who lives in Arizona at the age of 98. Also her three children; Larry in Seattle, Andy on Cape Cod, and Lori in Penobscot, Maine. And especially by her two grandchildren, Matt in Los Angeles, and Meir in Seattle. Even though her family was spread out around the country, she in Harrisburg was what kept everybody connected. That connection will be greatly missed. Because of the coronavirus her funeral and Shiva were conducted virtually. She would have approved of this never allowing anybody to put themselves in harm’s way.