Obituary of John R Norden

John (Butch) Rudolph Norden Jr, a retired Burlington Firefighter of Norway Maine, formerly of Burlington Massachusetts died on February 10, 2018 at his home in Norway. He was 79 years old. He was born on August 24, 1938 at the family home in Reading, Massachusetts. He was the son of the late John (Jay) and Margaret Norden. His family moved from Reading to the family farm in Burlington when he was a young boy. It was a simpler time where everyone in the family no matter the age contributed to working and maintaining the family farm. John married the love of his life, the late Helen Marie (Hughes) Norden in 1961 and they enjoyed a long and loving life together until her passing in 2013. John was an Army Veteran, serving overseas in France during the early 1960s. He was a proud member of the Burlington Fire Department and enjoyed the camaraderie of his brother firefighters until his retirement in 1998. He spent many years on the ambulance. A brother firefighter recently wrote ''Butch always displayed skill and a calm manner that instilled confidence in his patients and co-workers''. John had a number of passions over his lifetime. He was an outdoorsman and prolific gardener. He grew up in Burlington when it was just a farming community where he learned to hunt, fish and cultivate flowers and vegetables. After John and Helen’s retirement they moved to Norway Maine. It was a place that was very familiar and memorable to all his family because they had owned a small summer camp there on the shores of Norway Lake for many years prior. His retirement home had plenty of room to garden and keep all his collectibles. He enjoyed collecting antiques, especially fishing gear. He was an avid sportsman and he especially enjoyed hunting and fishing with his longtime friends Junior Santo and Buddy Dickie as well as fishing with his brother in law Rich Hughes and his close friend Cliff Larrabee. John was the beloved husband to his late wife Helen. They raised three children and lovingly cared for each other during 52 years together. He was the loving father of Noreen Johnson & her husband George of Mansfield, David & his wife Linda of Burlington, and Jay & his wife Saundra of Belchertown. He was the loving brother of the late Mary Doucette, Marjorie Brogna and Joan Dickie and brother-in-law to Patty (Hughes) Melaragni, Rich Hughes, Hank Hughes and the late Mike Hughes. Proud grandfather ''Gump'' of Jay, Emma, Abbey, George, Amy, Bryanna and Tyler. He was also survived by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews whom he loved very much. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON, (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday February 14 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and will conclude with a funeral service beginning at 7:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. The burial will be private. Memorials in John’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or www.donatenow.heart.org