Obituary of Norma Jean Marcalus

Norma Jean (nee Altenburg) Marcalus, 95, passed away at her Wyckoff home surrounded by family on Friday, April 7, 2017. Norma was born in Elizabeth, N.J. in 1921 to Otto and Jeanette Altenburg. She grew up in Elizabeth, graduated from the Vail-Deane School and attended Goucher College in Baltimore. She was married for 72 years to her childhood sweetheart, Robert, who passed away in 2014. Since 1946, Norma and Robert made Wyckoff their home and where they raised their family. Norma is survived by son Nicholas and wife Emily of Sugarloaf, PA, daughter Jeannette and husband Charles Bonin of Morristown, predeceased son Robert survived by daughter-in-law Dariel Marcalus of Pequannock, daughter Anne Sedler of Hawthorne, daughter Lisa Perkowski of Basking Ridge, son Peter and wife Karen of Oakland. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and sister-in-law Nancy Altenburg. Norma was an active volunteer for the Little Sisters of the Poor in Totowa. She loved to travel and was an avid golfer well into her late 80’s. Norma and Robert also enjoyed vacationing in Florida. They established lasting friendships in the Tequesta area where they had a vacation home. They enjoyed boating and spent many memorable times on their beloved boat, Happy Days. Norma was a lovely, gentle person who enjoyed family and friends gathering at her home. She cherished her marriage to Robert and had a deep love for all of her children, grandchildren and all of her nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of Norma’s life with a memorial mass on April 21st at 12:00 PM at the Church Of Saint Elizabeth, 700 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Norma’s memory to Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511 or to St. Joseph's Hospital, The Home Bound Program c/o Sr. Diane Dillon, 703 Main St., Paterson, NJ, 07503. Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff (www.vpfh.com).