Norma Tsirikos (nee Boutsikaris) passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, February 15, 2021 surrounded by her loving family.  She was 101 years old.  Born and raised in Newark, N.J., Norma lived in the Fords section of Woodbridge Township, N.J. for the past 60 years. She was predeceased by her beloved husband George Tsirikos, with whom she was married for 55 wonderful years.  Norma was also preceded in death by her four brothers: Charles, Harry, George, and Gregory Boutsikaris, as well as her grandson, Michael Cangro.

Norma is survived by her four children, Ellen Van Havere and her husband Albert, Dennis Tsirikos and his wife Linda, Donna Gyorfy and her husband Dave, and Thomas, all residents of Woodbridge Township.  Norma was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

After losing her father at an early age, Norma left high school in order to work in her mother's store during the Great Depression.  Norma's sacrifice and support to her family helped enable her four brothers to become championship fencers and successfully graduate from college.  During World War II, Norma worked at Breeze Corporation, helping to make supplies for the war effort.  Here she met and fell in love with her husband George, who subsequently served in the U.S. Navy.

Norma was proud of her family as well as her Greek heritage.  In addition to her unyielding concern for her children's health and well-being, she will be remembered for cooking large holiday-style meals every Sunday for her immediate and extended family members, as well as their guests.  Norma was a great cook. Pastitsio was among her family's favorite.  Norma and her husband, George, genuinely enjoyed having the family together. Together they made everyone, particularly their guests, feel welcomed, special, and loved.

In her later years, Norma enjoyed going to bingo with her daughters. She also enjoyed hosting family card games, doing crossword puzzles, playing scratch-off instant lottery tickets, watching game shows, and taking trips to Atlantic City with her son Dennis and his wife, Linda.

The family would like to extend thanks to the staff of the JFK Haven Hospice and RWJ Barnabas Hospice Programs for their dedicated care and professional services.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the family will have a private funeral service at Flynn and Son Funeral Home 23 Ford Ave., Fords, NJ 08863. on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, followed by interment at Rosedale Cemetery in Linden. A memorial celebration of her life will be scheduled at a future date.

For those who wish, a memorial contribution in Norma's name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105, would be appreciated.