Norene Carolyn (Taylor) Patterson

Norene Carolyn Patterson passed away on February 20, 2026, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after a long battle with heart disease, her family keeping vigil.

Born in 1933 to the late Floyd and Pauline (Zimmerman) Taylor, Norene leaves behind her beloved husband, James, having enjoyed over 74 years of marriage. They have three surviving children: Mike (Debra Myers) Patterson, Chris (Debra) Patterson, and Debra (Norman, Jr.) Haley.

Norene was a Swanton High School graduate, and she and Jim made Swanton their home for 20 plus years until they moved to Delta permanently in 1976. She worked for many years as a medical coding/billing specialist at Murtiff Medical Center in Delta.

After retirement, Norene and Jim loved to travel, mostly by car, and made several trips across the US. In 2002, the couple even made the very long road trip back to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they had begun their marriage when Jim was stationed there in the Air Force. For many years, they enjoyed their winters in Florida with the company of fellow Swanton, Delta, and Wauseon friends.

She cherished family gatherings and reunions. She loved gardening and was a talented floral arranger, always decorating her home for the holidays. She also liked to read, and mystery novels were her favorite.

Norene was a member of the Delta Church of Hope (previously Delta United Methodist Church) and would help with luncheons and prayer chains whenever she was able. She cared for both her mother and mother-in-law for years to keep them independent in their homes. She and Jim remained independent in their home into their 90s.

Her children heard many times that their mother was “so sweet”. Family and friends alike would tell them “I just love your mother.” Norene had a very kind and caring heart, always worried about being a bother, and never forgot to thank everyone who helped her in any way.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by one brother, Lewis Taylor, and a grandson-in-law. She is survived by her brother, Douglas Taylor, her children, five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She was very loved by her family and will be dearly missed.

Services will be private with interment at Delta’s Greenlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Heart Association.