Dedicated to the memory & life of Nora Jane Stephens. A wonderful wife to Mark for 34 years & mother to Alex. For those wishing to attend her funeral, Nora requested no black, colourful clothes only.
This site is a tribute to Nora Stephens (nee Bunting). Nora was much loved and will always be remembered as a caring, selfless kind and loving person who would help anybody. She was popular with her colleagues and never spoke badly of anyone. Nora was born in Belfast, N.I. to Margaret and Bill, middle sister to Bob and Ruth. The family then moved across the Irish Sea to Kirkintilloch in Scotland where apparently Nora developed a lovely Scottish accent, which soon disappeared when the family relocated to St. Albans and finally Chelsing Rise, Leverstock Green in Hemel Hempstead'
Perhaps surprisingly Nora was an avid fan of Tottenham Hotspur FC having been hooked by the FA Cup Final replay 1981 v Man City. Nora had a season ticket for many years on the shelf and was a huge fan of Ossie Ardiles (Little Oz as she called him) and Glenn Hoddle amongst others. Nora responded to a request in the Spurs program for a penpal who supported Tottenham. This was from a young Polish boy/man called Romauld in the mid 80s ,they remained regular correspondents, writing every Christmas, Easter, birthdays and ad hoc times to discuss Spurs volatile fortunes. Sadly they never met, a bit of an 84 Charing Cross Road like story which probably appealed to Nora. Rom kindly arranged for an obituary to appear in a recent Spurs program. A home Champions League tie v Eintracht Frankfurt which they won by 3 - 2 and Son Nora's current favourite player the South Korean, Son scored two great hoals.
Nora was present when they won the EUFA Cup at White Hart Lane in 1983. Our Good friend and a fellow Spurs fan, Bob Gettleson managed to get her tickets for the legends match in 2019 so she witnessed one of the first games in the new ground and in March this year the three of us did the tour of the ground, the last thing we managed to knock off of Nora's bucket list.
Nora was of course an avid reader of books. Her favourite authors include Thomas Hardy, Agatha Christie, Scott F. Fitzgerald, and Donna Leone - which are set in Venice, her favourite city holiday venue where we enjoyed many special holidays together. Nora tended to prefer crime and murder books. Her favourite book was the Great Gatsby.
Films were also a huge interest of Nora's. Her favourite films included the History Boys, Some like it Hot, any Marilyn Monroe film and more recently La La Land. Favourite TV programs include Line of Duty, The Repair Shop,, any travel or regional programs, Morse, Country File, TV detective programs and MOTD when Spurs won! Some of the last programs she watched were Devon and Cornwall, Michael Portillo's rail journeys, Repair Shop, wood work maestro Will was her favourite. She has said many times that she could have adopted him or Jermaine Jenas, once of Spurs.
Nora was a talented musician playing Clarinet and Saxophone. She had a blow a few times on her Selmer Tenor as recently last year.
Nora had a passionate love of Elephants as you would soon notice in her home. She rode one in Dublin zoo as a child and again whilst on honeymoon with Mark in Thailand. Her favourite hot water bottle named Edward will make her final journey with her along with her Spurs scarf and Windy Miller.
Ballet was another of her favourite passion especially if Carlos Acosta or Marianela Nunez were performing. Until covid she was a regular attendee at the Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells. Nora has seen live ballet performed around the world including Moscow and Havana.
Nora was employed as an estimator at DRG, then joined the library service in Berkhamsted before having Alex and raising him until he went to school, a period which she described as the happiest days of her life. In latter years she worked as an Examinations Officer at Longdean School and finally as a Library Assistant at Hemel Hempstead library, only retiring on the grounds of ill health on July 15th this year, 2022.
It is evident since her passing she was highly regarded, seen as a kind and caring person and is greatly missed by former colleagues several of whom have kindly visited me exchanged email addresses which is hugely appreciated as were those able to attend her funeral in person.
It is hard to believe a year has passed, we all miss Nor dearly and barely a week goes by when someone will comment to me what a lovely person she was to have as a friend, work colleague family member which i as her husband can testify. Those touched by her presence always have a good word to say and express how elegant and lady like she was in all she did.
since her passing i have found a box of black and white photos taken by Bill Npras father many of Nora including one holding the famous Jack in the box which she threw at her brother Bob, (I intend to post some on here in future) those present at her funeral may recall the story in Bob's eulogy before he got to the " well that just leaves us with supporting Tottenham Hotspur and her love of elephants section"! Of course the infamous Edward made the journey on her coffin as did her Spurs scarf and Windy Miller
Nora Stephens' Funeral
Service
5th September 2022 at 12:40 pmCommittal
Family flowers only please. The family would appreciate it if you would like to donate to one of the three charities Nora nominated towards the end of her life in lieu of a floral tribute. Nora was very grateful to the NHS for help she received, which with her own inward determination, bravery undoubtedly helped her to survive beyond consultant's expectations, working until Jan 2022. Nora was determined to die at home in her own bed, helped by the Rennie Grove Hospice at Home nurses & carers.
Recent Donations
Simon and Erica Barnes
In ever loving memory of beautiful, brave Nora. A truly rare and remarkable woman and friend. You will be forever loved and deeply missed. Thank you for enriching so many lives… xxx
£20.00
Simon and Erica Barnes
You will always be a beautiful birthday girl !! All our love Simon and Erica.
£20.00
Margot xx
Nora, thank you for being my friend. I hold you in my heart always.
£20.00
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