Dr. Anna Jenny Norris
Age 58, passed away March 18, 2017. Anna was born September 7, 1958 in Tunis, Tunisia, and grew up in Paris, France. Anna moved to the US in the early 1980’s to study for and complete a Masters degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she met and married her husband Kenneth in 1986. They moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1988 where she completed her Doctorate at the University of Virginia, and bore two children, Elliott and Camille.
The family moved to Haslett, Michigan in December of 1998, and Anna began her academic career with a tenure track position with Michigan State University, where she has remained active Faculty until her passing. Anna deeply cared for all of her students, as they for her. For many years Anna directed a study abroad program with the Institute Touraine in France, giving students, memories not forgotten. Anna was a member of many academic organizations and her research was highly published. Anna was knighted Chevalier de Palmes Académiques by the French Republic Ministry for Higher Education and Research, and awarded the Medal of Honor, Academic.
Anna is survived by her husband, Kenneth Norris; her children, Elliott Norris and Camille Norris; her mother, Mathilde Cohen; and her brothers, Yvan Cohen and Marc Cohen. Anna was preceded in death by her father, Jean Cohen, and her brother, Alain Cohen.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Rd., East Lansing, with interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, arrangements are being made with the MSU study abroad programs and Jewish studies program to establish a memorial fund for students.
15 Messages to “Dr. Anna Jenny Norris”
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Mike & Erika Hamilton
March 20, 2017 at 9:18 amWe are very sorry to hear of Anna’s passing…Our thoughts & prayers are with you all….
Much Love,
Mike & Erika Hamilton
Nicole Smith
March 20, 2017 at 5:31 pmWe are thinking very much of the three of you and share your grief. Anna was the most wonderful friend, clever, fun and so loyal. Anna and her family will always have a very big place in our heart. We are sending you our love.
Nicole and Don Smith
Sarasota, FL
Meredith Erickson and Family
March 20, 2017 at 8:47 pmThe Erickson family is sending love to the entire Norris family during this most difficult time. We are so very sad to hear of Anna’s passing. She was such a kind and caring woman. We are lucky to have known her. She will be missed.
Rocío & Steve Kachmar
March 21, 2017 at 7:16 amDear Ken, Elliott and Camille,
We are profoundly sad for Anna’s departure. We are here with you and for you. Anna’s smile was so beautiful, her sense of humor was refreshing and she made me smile. She is and will be missed.
Rocío, Steve & Jan
East Lansing, MI
Lizzie Greenberg-Taubel
March 21, 2017 at 8:03 amI was so sad to hear that Professor Norris passed away. She was such a kind presence in the French department, and was always very generous with her time. I especially remember the joy she had spending time with her children. My deepest condolences to all of you. I hope that knowing that she had such a positive affect on so many students will be of some comfort in this difficult time.
Sue-bunch Dixon
March 21, 2017 at 9:21 amPlease accept my condolence. Anna was/is a very inspirational part of my life. I owe my study abroad experience (Tours, France) to Anna, I wouldn’t had made it if not for her passion and encouragement. We had remained connected since then. I know she will rest in perfect peace, because she had a good heart.
Salah Hassan and Sheila Contreras
March 21, 2017 at 10:28 amSo sudden; so tragic. Anna will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know her. Our thoughts are with the grieving family.
Don Holloway
March 21, 2017 at 12:35 pmPlease accept my condolences. I was terribly saddened to learn recently of Anna’s sudden death. I was a colleague of Anna’s at Virginia and remember her smile and especially her voice well. An individual overflowing with genuine, deep-seated kindness and generosity of spirit.
Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya,
v’chayim aleinu v’al kol Yisrael.
V’imru: Amen.
Paul and Janeice Morrow
March 21, 2017 at 6:50 pmKen and Family — We are so saddened to hear of Anna’s sudden passing. Our prayers are with you and the entire family. Many will feel her loss. Peace be with you all.
Teresa Kent Todd
March 21, 2017 at 10:11 pmI am so sorry for your loss. Anna was an amazing professor and person. I took several classes with her in grad school and she was a member of my PhD committee. I cherish my memories of her. She cared so deeply about her students. She contacted me when I left academe and was incredibly supportive when she learned why. That meant a lot to me. I wish for peace for you as you process this loss. She has left mark on this world on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her or working with her.
Anne Gross
March 22, 2017 at 3:54 pmI was so sad to learn of Anna’s passing. She was such a special lady and I enjoyed working with her when Elliot and Camille were in my classroom for first grade. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of you. I have such fond memories of all of you and am so sorry for your loss.
Marc Bellot
March 23, 2017 at 6:34 amI would like to express my sorrow and incredulous pain for the loss of my dear friend Anna. We met at the University of Lincoln, Nebraska in 1984 when we were both working as teaching assistants. Anna decided to stay in the US and even though I returned to France we still kept in touch and saw each other occasionally. Anna married, had children and pursued a brilliant academic career. I was looking forward to seeing her last August when she and Ken came to Montpellier, France, to see their daughter at the University there. I couldn’t make it at the last minute for imperious personal reasons…
The pain I feel in my heart is significant of the deep feelings of friendship I have for Anna. I didn’t know of her illness and I will always keep in my memory her smiling face, her sense of humor and positive outlook on life. We loved speaking with the “pied-noir” accent, because we both spent our youth in Algeria for me and Tunisia for Anna. Last time she came to my home in Chantilly, France, I cooked her a “couscous” and had a fine time remembering the fine recipes of our mothers.
We have to accept the unfairness and cruelty of life and can only offer prayers and sympathy for those who unexpectedly are cut off from our affection. I pray for Anna. I will never forget her.
My deepest condolences go to her husband, her children and family. I share their sorrow. I feel privileged to have met Anna and shared friendship with her.
Marc Bellot
Chantilly, France
Safoi Babana-Hampton
March 23, 2017 at 7:55 amWe lost a colleague and friend who has given so generously to our French program and brought so much to our department, college, university and the community. She spent the last few days of her life busy doing one of the things she was always most passionate about as well as selflessly and tirelessly dedicated herself to during her long and rich career: being an accomplished scholar and inspirational educator who profoundly impacted her students’ educational and life journeys. Her beautiful legacy will be around for a very long time. May her grieving family find in it comfort, healing and serenity. Thinking of you Ken, Camille and Elliott.
Shari Wilson
March 23, 2017 at 10:47 amMay her memories be a blessing.
Michael Kramizeh
March 23, 2017 at 1:00 pmMy deepest condolences to Anna’s family. She was a dedicated and caring teacher and I’m am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her at MSU.