Dr. Norma Jean Havlin, nee DeWitt, 102, of Belleville, IL, born Sunday, January 7, 1923, in Beardstown, IL, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Freeburg Care Center in Freeburg, IL.
Dr. Norma Jean Havlin was a woman committed to family and education. She raised two sons and started her career by teaching first grade in East St. Louis from 1961-1964. She attended night classes starting in 1961 at Southern Illinois University (SIU) while working part-time at various retail jobs as well as managing a household.
After her younger son, Jim, left home for college in 1965, she moved into a mobile home to complete her Master’s degree in 1966 and her PhD in Education in 1969 both from SIU, Carbondale. Completing these degrees from 1961-1969 was extremely difficult and challenging but in the words of her mother (Grace DeWitt) “Once you have your education, it is something that nobody can ever take away from you.” She served the students of the Alton-Godfrey School District #11 as a School Psychologist until her retirement in 2003 when she relocated to Belleville where she lived on the same street as her oldest son and two granddaughters.
She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter GM, and the Red Hat Society. She was a member of the American Federation of Teachers, a Charter Member of Illinois School Psychologists Association, a member of National Association of School Psychologists since 1970, a member of American Association of School Psychologists since 1970, a member of Illinois Clinical Psychologists and well as the International School Psychology Association. She was also a member of the Southern Ill. School Psychologists Assoc. where she served as President, Treasurer, and Secretary at various times from 1970-1980.
She was a very independent woman and loved to travel. She shared her love of travel with her family and explored the world with them on trips with her to the International School Psychologists Association conventions. She liked stylish cars and could be seen driving around town in her red convertible and renewed her drivers license at age 99.
“Gram” loved baking, gardening, swimming, and travel, all of which she enjoyed sharing with her family. “Jeanie,” as she was also known, cherished time with family and would go to great lengths to visit for birthdays or any special events, often bringing gifts of homemade buns or angel food cake. She was always encouraging and supportive, inspiring many to follow their dreams.
She was preceded in death by her:
- Parents: Rolla John and Grace, nee Reische, DeWitt
- Son: Robert Harold Havlin
- Sister in infancy: Beulah Adelaide DeWitt
Surviving are her:
- Son: James (Stacy St. John) Havlin of Worden, IL
- Daughter-in-law: Linda Havlin, nee Minor
- Grandchildren
- Laura (Paul) Sforza of Pensacola Beach, FL
- Nancy (Jeff) McNevin of St. Charles, MO
- Karen (Tom) Linn of Houston, TX
- Robert (Tanya Mazur) Havlin Jr. of Katy, TX
- Douglas Havlin of Fairplay, CO
- Brian (Laura) Havlin of Oakwood, IL
- Julie (Justin) Murphy of St. Louis, MO
- Great grandchildren
- Robert Sforza (fiancée, Maia Delkamiller), Bishop Sforza
- Margaret McNevin
- Katherine McNevin
- Annastasia Linn
- Victoria Linn
- Avery Havlin
- Nicholas Havlin
- Jeffery Havlin
- Sister: Peggy Ann Hoover of Lehigh Acres, FL
- Niece: Beverly Morey
- Great niece: Stephanie Cox
- Nephew: Richard Hoover
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Signal Hill Education Foundation (http://shefinfo.org)
Visitation: Visitation from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday May 13, 2025 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL.
Services: Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at Kurrus Funeral Home, with Rev. Bob Swickard officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
