She'll Be Missed

Lita Jean (Norman) Mattson - 54
March 8, 1956 – April 29, 2010

Lita passed away early in the afternoon on April 29, 2010, at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, from Breast Cancer. Born March 8, 1956, to Janice (Ellis) Norman and Laurence Norman, at Murphy Army Hospital in Waltham, Lita has had many medical struggles from the very beginning. Lita was born with a congenital heart defect, and doctors told her parents “not to get too attached to her.” Lita proved the doctors wrong at every turn, and formed many strong relationships with family, friends and co-workers. It is these relationships that defined her life.

Lita worked most of her life in accounts payable. Lita worked in the finance department of Casual Male Retail Group (CMRG) in Canton, MA, since 1986 where she made life-long friends. In fact, the people at CMRG became her second family and supported her in so many ways over the years, especially during her chemotherapy treatments. Even after Lita went on hospice care, members of the CMRG team called, emailed, and visited on a regular basis. She appreciated each and every one of these relationships throughout the years.

Lita felt very blessed to be treated by Dr. Dhillon and her team at Norfolk Cancer Center in Brockton, MA. Lita began seeing Dr. Dhillon in the mid-nineties for Breast Cancer and could not say enough about the care she received from Dr. Dhillon and her team. In fact, when talking of moving out of state, she decided not to move because of Dr. Dhillon. When you saw Lita at the clinic, the bond she shared with staff and patients was very obvious.

During her final months, Lita received hospice care at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, and received outstanding care from the VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell. The team of nurses, doctors, health aides, social workers, art therapists, Reiki practitioners, pharmacists, delivery people, and spiritual advisors took care of her medical needs as well as her comfort and emotional needs with their team-approach to caring for patients. Lita looked forward to seeing each of these people and they her.

While Lita thought she lead an ordinary life, nothing could be further from the truth. In spite of all her medical difficulties, Lita did not give up when so many others would. If it needed to be done, she did it. If it was in her power to help someone else, she would even if it meant that she went without. Her final act of giving was to donate her body to science. It was her belief that if doctors can use her body to help someone else, then they should do it. They may perform research, or they may teach doctors to do stitches or other procedures. In any case, it may help doctors to help other people down the road, which is exactly what Lita wanted.

Some of Lita’s hobbies included making hand-made cards, scrapbooking, jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, reading, and watching Patriots football.

Lita is survived by her son, Peter Mattson, her father, Laurence Norman, her brothers Donald, Paul, and Larry Norman, her sister, Clydene (Norman) Horrigan, and many nieces and nephews. Lita was pre-deceased by her mother, Janice (Ellis) Norman and her grandparents.

While many people send flowers to the family under these circumstances, the family requests that instead you give flowers to a loved one, place flowers on a soldier’s grave or make a donation in Lita’s memory to the Hospice organization that cared for her until her passing.

VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell
334 Center Street
PO Box 1965
Lowell, MA 01853

A celebration of life is being planned for family, friends, and co-workers. More information will follow once the arrangements have been made.