Nora Applegate Cyr, beloved wife of Paul J. Cyr, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024 after a long illness. Nora and Paul lived happily in Bristol Mills for 44 years and attended the Congregational Church, just up the road from their house. Their church membership and participation were a source of comfort to them both.
Nora was born in Indianapolis, Ind., to Nora and Theodore Applegate, both of whom were newspaper reporters covering sports and news. Their careers influenced Nora’s lifelong love of current events and news, sports, and history. With family roots in the Midwest, Nora was the fifth generation of her family to attend Indiana University. An avid sports fan, following college basketball and football, her family mused that she could have given Penn State football coaches advice worth following.
Her family later moved to Pleasantville, N.Y. where she graduated from high school. In her high school yearbook, she was described by her classmates as cheerful and nice with a great smile for everyone, characteristics she faithfully maintained throughout her life.
In 1953, Nora married Erling “Bo” Stockmann and together they had four daughters. After many moves, they settled at Pemaquid Point in 1973. Widowed in 1977, and raising her family alone, she began a career in banking at First National Bank of Damariscotta in the trust department. During this time, she met Paul and they were married in 1980.
After retiring, she worked in various positions with Senior Spectrum, which led to her active volunteerism with Meals on Wheels and the Lincoln County Triad, which she, with her husband Paul, enjoyed greatly.
In retirement, Nora and Paul delighted in their travels with good friends and the many winters spent relaxing in the Myrtle Beach area.
Nora was a devoted “Grammie” and “Gigi” to her 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She loved the many large and small family celebrations, birthdays, barbeques, cookout dinners, and the holiday festivities that brought her family together.
The annual family reunion each summer was a highlight of her year. Nora loved her family and her family returned their love in equal measure.
Nora was predeceased by her grandson, Adam Woodbrey; granddaughter, Melissa Fedorovich; son-in-law, Kurtis Jens; and her first husband, Erling Stockmann.
Nora is survived by her loving husband, Paul Cyr; daughters, Nora Ann Jens, Barbara Allan, Karen Stockmann, and Kathy Woodbrey; stepdaughters, Cyndy Fedorovich and Cathy Cyr; sister, Sally Applegate; sons-in-law, John Allan, Tom Graham, and Mitch Woodbrey; grandchildren, Katie and Aaron Harnish, David and Kristin Jens, Joshua and Kiki Allan, Emily and Nick Kutch, Elizabeth Grear, Sean Grear, Patrick and Annie Woodbrey, Justin Woodbrey, Stacy Fedorovich, Emily Fedorovich; great-grandchildren, Leo, Betty, Billy, Jamie, Nora Irene, Annika, Caroline, Ellie, Alice, Grace, Cameran, Cassie, and Eve; and many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 1 p.m., at the Bristol Congregational Church in Bristol Mills. A reception will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bristol Congregational Church, Bristol Fire and Rescue, or Meals on Wheels.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for her family, may be expressed by visiting stronghancock.com.
