Norman Patrick Piercy came into the world on September 22, 1931 in Kangaroo Valley to Edward and Margaret Piercy.

He was the youngest of seven sons all now deceased.

Norm was baptised along with his father and most of his brothers at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kangaroo Valley in 1932.

At age 19, on the passing of his parents, Norm moved to Nowra to live with the Hampstead family.

Norm stayed with the Hampsteads for some nine years.

He proved to be a clean living, tidy young man who loved helping around his foster house as no job was too arduous or tedious for him.

Bill Hampstead was a wonderful mentor to Norm teaching him to read and write.

Norm then moved to a residence in Berry Street until his marriage to Moya Kenny from Wollongong on February 6, 1960.

The wedding took place in All Saints Anglican Church, Nowra where Norm was previously confirmed while in his 20s.

It was while living in Nowra that their first child, son David was born.

The little family decided to move to Wollongong and during this time daughter Catherine

was born.

Norman eagerly assumed the role of doting father to his two children together with his continued devotion to Moya.

Their next move was the return south to Terara where they enjoyed a long and blissful period watching their children grow up in a lovely rural environment.

At the end of this time, Natasha was born to Cathy and Norm absolutely idolised his first grandchild.

Through this time Norm became a cleaner at Nowra High School for a few years and then gained employment at the John Bull Rubber Company.

An amusing episode relates to him coming home blackened by the rubber product that he was working with.

The routine was to hop in the shower and scrub off the black vigorously with Solvol.

He would emerge as red as a beetroot followed by good dusting copious amounts of talcum powder.

Norm could be easily found around the house by simply following his trail of talc.

After a couple more moves and with the children making their own way in life, Norm and Moya settled into a unit in Albert Street, Nowra, where sadly, sometime later in September 2003, Moya passed away leaving Norm completely devastated.

Norm never really recovered from losing his beloved Moya in his later life.

Within a year or so Norm was hospitalised undergoing a hernia operation.

It was about this time that Natasha stayed with him a short while.

She could see that pop was not coping on a day to day basis together with his failing eyesight and so she believed he required professional care.

On discharge, Norm moved to Greenwell Gardens and despite advice by friends to stay he refused, such was his shock at losing his previous lifestyle and liberty.

Norm was fortunate enough to meet up with John, Ann’s son who arranged for him to take a room nearby where Anne lived.

He stayed there for two years until 2012 when he was hospitalised again.

He was accepted into Osborne House but became very depressed at living in an institution, despite the good care he received.

It was about this time he began to attend 8am Sunday communion and later Open House Fellowship at All Saints Church.

He believed his health was sufficiently sound for him to acquire rental living in his own apartment.

He managed to get into “Berry Court” apartments and for four or so years, life was wonderful for Norm, who was happy with his new circumstances in which “he was the boss”.

He provided many reminiscences, almost on a daily basis over his favourite “cuppa tea”.

At any other time he would regularly walk the CBD greeting passers-by.

It was during these halcyon days in “Berry Court”  that Norm’s legendary status as a local identity became even more impressive.

One welcome highlight in Norm’s life was winning the companionship of Jaimie, whom he met at All Saints.

He faithfully helped Norm with grocery shopping every pension day, cooking regular meals and enjoying his company over a VB.

Norm doted on Jaimie, who liked to call Norm “Pop”; showing the depth of their companionship

As Norm’s sight continued to fail now having one eye removed, he became more and more accident-prone.

This resulted in him being increasingly reliant on residents in the block to support him whenever he was in a fix which was often.

He sustained a broken arm towards the end of 2016 and was hospitalised yet again.

It was now obvious to all who were close to him that he could no longer live independently.

He was transferred again to Osborne House after discharge.

Norm’s final months were distressing to witness, it seemed he was now looking forward to being with his beloved Moya at last.

Norman Piercy, a man who enjoyed a fulfilling life in his own simple way, a loving husband and devoted father and grandfather is now at rest and all who knew him over his life time surely think of him with great fondness of one who coloured, indeed brightened our lives just that little bit more.