Dr. Disnarda Norniella, My Teacher, Boss, Mentor, Second Mom, As Excellent a Woman as you can Get

Dr. Disnarda V. Norniella

Dr. Disnarda V. Norniella
October 31, 1926 - August 13, 2016
Byron, GA- Dr. Disnarda V. Norniella, also known as "Desi" to those closest to her, transitioned into eternal life with God on Saturday, August 13, 2016. She was 89.
Disnarda was born in 1926 in Suluetas, Cuba to the late Francisco Valdés and Francisca Aurelia Perdomo de Valdés. She graduated from the University of Havana in Havana, Cuba earning a Ph. D. in education and an M.A. in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Norniella began her teaching career as a missionary teacher at the Presbyterian Day School in Encrucijada, Cuba. In 1961, she and her husband, Orlando, and their two children immigrated to the United States as Political Refugees. She taught at San Angelo College in San Angelo, Texas, Bennet College in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Dr. Norniella retired in 1991 from Augustana College.
In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, Orlando Eladio Norniella; and brothers, Arnaldo B. Valdés and Chris Valdés. 
Those who are here to carry on her memory are: her children, Edith N. Norniella of Byron and son, Joaquin O. Norniella (Bonnie) of Kenosha, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Derrick Norniella of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Holly Norniella of Jacksonville, Florida; great-grandchildren, Briana Allen and Isabella Norniella; as well as eight nieces and nephews. 
The family will receive friends at McCullough Funeral Home in Warner Robins on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A religious service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Houston Lake Presbyterian Church in Kathleen. Following the service, Disnarda will be laid to rest in Parkway Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Disnarda Norniella to Houston Lake Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 101 O'Brien Drive, Kathleen, GA 31047.
Friends may go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign an online registry for the family and to view the memorial video once it has been finalized. McCullough Funeral Home has the privilege of being entrusted with Dr. Norniella's arrangements.


View the online memorial for Dr. Disnarda V. Norniella

Funeral Home

McCullough Funeral Home
417 South Houston Lake Road Warner Robins, GA 31088
(478) 953-1478

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Happy Halloween!

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National Library of Medicine

National Library of Medicine

Ahead of her Time; Pym Comments on Religion

I listened this morning to a British writer on NPR discussing the role of religion in our lives. One interesting comment he made was that even atheists, like himself, need exposure to religion for intellectual and cultural enrichment, if nothing else.  More on that in some other future post, especially in Dr. E's Greening Tips for the Common Person, where one of my original tips is "be spiritual."


The second point the British author made was that in our world, religion is being replaced by other institutions, including and especially, Medicine.  Medical science does indeed seem to be our God, even if it's just WebMD.  I could wax poetic on this topic, too, but suffice it to say that civilization once looked to its hunter/gatherers for survival and inspiration.  Then, it looked to its bards for it, then to its priests, who replaced the bards and the hunter/gatherers.  When it became easier to find food to survive, and shelter to protect us, we could look to our souls.


Then, we turned to medicine, to live longer and stay younger, and all else fell by the wayside.


Barbara Pym realized this shift in religion, if you will.  She had a foot in religion, medical science, and social science, as well as literature. [Please forgive the cliché/bad metaphor].  In Quartet in Autumn, we see the shift take place with Marcia.  Marcia's god and knight in shining armor is Mr. Strong, her surgeon, who sees her through her battle with breast cancer. Religion is not big in her life; instead, she is inspired by Mr. Strong, and by collecting bags, milk bottles, and string.


Norman, her coworker, is more in tune with religion, but with him, it is more a hobby than a matter of belief.  It is his lifestyle, his "something to love."


If you are interested in reading more on this topic, see my book, The Subversion of Romance in the  Novels of Barbara Pym.

Public Domain

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1492: Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate,