GUILDERLAND – Mary Norris is "a wonderful, wonderful woman" who is "always smiling," says Kathy Kavanaugh.

Norris was one of 50 recipients of a lifetime achievement award at a recent ceremony in Albany held by the Capital District Senior Issues Forum. It was the 10th annual event honoring people 85 and older for their achievements within their communities. Norris was nominated by Kavanaugh; the two have known each other for about 25 years.
"She has tremendous integrity," said Kavanaugh, adding that Norris has said that she’s never lied to anybody.

Kavanaugh is the coordinator for pastoral care at the Church of Christ the King in Guilderland, where Norris is an active member.

Norris is involved with several church committees and is a visitation minister, bringing communion to and visiting with parishioners at home and in nursing homes every week, Kavanaugh said. At 89, Norris is still making visits to people’s homes, she said.
"She has been a caregiver all her life," said Kavanaugh. Norris grew up in Niagara Falls. She had two brothers and two sisters, whom she helped to raise after her father died when she was 12.

She attended the New York State College for Teachers in Albany, now the University at Albany. She was the president of the Newman Hall Catholic Dormitory and was part of the college’s newspaper staff in her junior and senior years. She graduated in 1941.

She later cared for her mother-in-law, who lived with Norris and her husband, Benjamin Norris, and their five children. While her husband finished medical school, Norris worked, but she raised her children as a stay-at-home mother.
Norris, is "very sharp," said Kavanaugh. "She has more energy than people who are 50" She’s just amazing," she said.
"She loves to help people," said Kavanaugh. "I don’t know anyone who knows her who doesn’t think she’s wonderful."
Norris has lived in Guilderland for about 45 years, and has "been very involved in her community," said Norris’s son, Benjamin Norris III, adding with a laugh that she "raised some pretty terrific kids."

She has five children — Mary Gay Wood, Benjamin Norris III, Judy Polley, John Norris, and Lisa Gaglioti — 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Norris was involved in the Albany County Medical Auxiliary and the St. Peter’s Hospital Auxiliary. She began volunteering at St. Peter’s Hospital in 1963, and still volunteers at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, said Kavanaugh. She has helped with the Red Cross, the Blood Bank, Community Chest, Holy Names Academy, as well as the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. She also volunteered at the Albany Symphony Show Houses and helped with lunch duty at Christ the King School in Guilderland.
"She’s been a busy lady," said Benjamin Norris.
Norris is "not the kind of person to toot her own horn," said her son, "but I think she is pretty pleased to be recognized, though she would never say so.
"It’s special to us that someone outside the family felt enough about her to nominate her," said Benjamin Norris on behalf of his family. "We’re just very happy for her to be recognized and we’re pleased she’s our mother, and that she gave us the guidance she did over the years," he concluded.