Debra Norris was born January 18, 1953, in Belvidere, IL, to Calvin and Grace Anderson. She had four younger brothers, Steven, Charles, Robert, and Michael, who were not always nice, but they turned out well enough. She was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 14, but she did not let it stop her from graduating or enjoying her early life. She worked in telecommunications in her early twenties until she met the love of her life, David Norris. They wed on March 14, 1981, but waited three years to have their only child, Matthew Norris, as they needed to prepare for what they expected would be quite a handful.

She graduated from Kishwaukee Community College with her Associate's and began a 25-year career at the Sycamore Public Library, working at the reference desk. Her son believed she could find the answer to any question he might ask, and he was likely correct. Library patrons visited her daily for her lovely smile and friendly conversation, and even outside the library, she was known for spending much of her free time with the community she loved.

Even as her health gradually declined, her kindness, compassion, and warmth shone through her every interaction. When her husband and son had medical scares, her perseverance and strength guided the whole family back to better health. The family supported each other with love, compassion, and no small amount of sarcasm.

She loved to read, to spend time with her two men, as she called them, to speak to her cats as though they were human, and, most of all, to talk with her family. She touched everyone she ever met with love and offered a willing ear to anything they might need to talk about.

She peacefully passed away on January 13, 2026, with her husband and son at her bedside.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Grace Anderson, and by two of her brothers, Robert Anderson and Michael Anderson.

She is survived by her husband, David Norris, her son, Matthew Norris, and her brothers, Charles Anderson and Steven Anderson.
Her memorial visitation will be on Sunday, January 18th from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL.
To sign the online guest book, go to http://www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com