On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Linda Frances Norton, loving wife of Ronald Mattson, and surrounded by her family, passed away at the age 74. Born in Providence, a daughter of Frances (DeCataldo) Norton and the late Leo Norton.
Linda had attended Rhode Island College and went on to work in financial aid at various local colleges, including Merrimack College, Providence College, and Bryant University. She was an active member and one time president of The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, RI Chapter.
Always a dessert first kind of person, Linda will be remembered as passionate and expressive, with a colorful fashion sense, from her hats and scarves to the tips of her manicured nails. Her place in her large Irish-Italian family is quite notable, eldest daughter, eldest granddaughter, eldest sister, eldest niece, and eldest cousin, a distinction she embraced wholeheartedly. She was a thoughtful and caring person who had a card for every occasion, never missing a birthday, anniversary, or holiday. She was an avid sports fan, supporting all the New England Teams and PC Friars. She had an affinity for frogs and maintained a large collection throughout her life.
As a political junkie, she voted in every election and participated in the Women’s March in Providence in 2020. Linda and Ron checked off many items from her bucket list, including visiting Times Square on New Year’s Eve, Route 66 where she stood on the corner of Winslow, AZ, San Antonio, TX Santa Fe, NM. Sunday drives to nowhere was one of her favorite activities, taking back roads, finding antique stores and unique places to eat with Ron. We can imagine her now with one hand on the steering wheel and the other one giving the peace sign.
She is survived by her mother, Frances Norton of Johnston, her husband of 43 years, Ronald Mattson of Johnston, her stepchildren Robert Mattson and his wife Cheryl of Smithfield, Lisa Bencivengo and her husband David of Morristown, NJ, Gary Mattson and his wife Alicia of Galloway, NJ and Julie Mattson and her companion, Bob Fehlberg of Greenville. She also leaves her five sisters, Teresa Norton of Wareham, MA, Susan Arruda and her husband Frank of Cranston, Mary Norton and her wife Wendy Becker of Cranston, Patricia Norton and her husband James Sheehan of Wareham, MA and Catherine Norton and her husband Gordon Gibson of Portsmouth. She leaves her grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, Stephanie, Christopher, Jonathan, Gavin, Erik and Emma. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews.
You can honor Linda’s memory by voting. As she would say, “ It’s your duty, your privilege, your power.”
An interment at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery will take place on Friday October 11th at 11am.