Norma Bartlett, 77, of Hillcrest Drive, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 24, 2022, in her home. She was born in Wellsville on November 16, 1945, the daughter of the late Felix and Marie (Cristini) Biancuzzo. On July 17, 1965, she married her husband of 57 years, James E. Bartlett, who survives.
Norma attended the Eastman School of Music as a voice major in 1963. She earned her Associate’s degree from Alfred State College, her Bachelor’s degree in music education from Houghton College (graduating in 1989), and her Master’s degree in music from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1994, where she was a member of Phi Beta Cappa. While earning her Master’s she was the music teacher for Bolivar-Richburg Central School from 1992 to 2009. Once retiring from Bolivar-Richburg she was the music teacher for Immaculate Conception School from 2010 to 2019.
Beyond teaching, she was also an All-State Vocal Adjudicator for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for over 20 years. For over ten years she was the organist and choir director at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belmont until her death. She also offered private voice lessons to dozens of aspiring young musicians in Allegany County through out her exceptional musical career. But most of all in 1975 she became a charter member of the Genesee Valley Chorus, which was founded to celebrate the bicentennial. She has been its director for over a decade. Her family, former students, choir members, and friends in the community will remember Norma for her exceptional soprano voice and musical talent was well as her vivacious personality.
In addition to her loving husband, Jim, she is survived by: two children, David L. (Andrea) Bartlett of West Henrietta, NY and Karen Bartlett-Morse of Auburn, NY; two sisters, Ann McKay of Rochester, NY and Marie (David) Vaklyes of Reston, VA; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 2 – 4 PM at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home of Wellsville, 34 West State Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 30, 2022, at 11 AM at Holy Family Church, 5 Milton Street, Belmont, NY 14813. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Belmont.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Genesee Valley Chorus in care of President Dana Ross, 5196 State Route 244 Belmont, NY 14813.
To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com
