Norma Talarico Graytock, 90, of Williamsburg, Virginia, passed away from natural causes, peacefully in her sleep on July 17, 2026.
She was born Norma Jean Talarico on December 14, 1935, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, to Anthony and Josephine Talarico, who immigrated to the United States from Italy. A first-generation American, Norma was the only one of their children to survive infancy and was deeply shaped by her Italian heritage and the values of her parents. Throughout her life, she remained devoted to her extended Italian family in Italy and Pennsylvania.
Norma grew up in Bradford and graduated from Bradford High School in 1953. As the first in her family to attend college, Norma continued her education at Penn State University’s main campus, where she earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education. She began her career as a teacher in the Bradford Area School District and later as a guidance counselor at North Campus School in Abington, Pennsylvania. She later served students as a homebound teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Norma was feisty, determined, strong, inquisitive, and famously candid. She had exacting standards, was not easily impressed, and was never reluctant to share her opinion. Norma had impeccable taste, evident in her polished home and personal style. She loved designer clothing and was seldom seen without an abundance of sparkling gems. She valued education, proper manners, family loyalty, and personal presentation.
In 1968, Norma met Robert Arnold “Bob” Graytock of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, through the Catholic Alumni Club (CAC). The club brought together single Catholic college graduates for religious, charitable, cultural, athletic, and social activities. Although it was not officially a matchmaking organization, many marriages resulted—including theirs. Norma teasingly referred to CAC as “Catch a Catholic.”
Norma and Bob married on October 18, 1969, at St. Bernard’s Church in Bradford. They first made their home in Philadelphia, where their daughter Gina Marie was born. In 1971, they moved to Fairfax, Virginia, and welcomed their daughter Tara Ann the following year. Their marriage spanned nearly 49 years and took them from Pennsylvania to Northern Virginia and, eventually, Williamsburg.
In the early years, Norma devoted herself to raising Gina and Tara in Shouse Village in Vienna, Virginia. She volunteered as a room mother at her daughters’ school and as a team mother for their many sports teams. Norma was also involved in the Shouse Village community, enjoying couples’ and women’s bridge clubs, and neighborhood gatherings. For almost a decade, she served as a leader of the community swim team.
After her daughters were grown, Norma returned to the workforce for a short time and was employed by the United States Department of the Treasury. In 2009, Norma and Bob moved to Williamsburg to be near Tara, her husband, Tommy, and their growing family. Throughout their years in both Northern Virginia and Williamsburg, they built lasting friendships. They enjoyed family celebrations, fine dining, the beach, and travel, including many vacations, cruises, and trips throughout the world. Norma also loved to swim for exercise throughout much of her life. But it was Norma’s six grandchildren that were her greatest source of pride.
Following Bob’s death in 2018, Norma moved to the WindsorMeade retirement community in 2020. She initially lived independently before transitioning to memory care in 2022. The nursing staff at WindsorMeade showed extraordinary dedication to Norma’s health, dignity, and well-being. Even as her condition progressed, she continued to share meaningful and joyful days with Tara’s family and their extended family.
A lifelong Catholic, Norma was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Vienna, Virginia, and later of St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Her faith remained an important foundation throughout her life.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Josephine Talarico; her infant siblings; her husband, Robert Arnold Graytock; and her daughter, Gina Marie Graytock, who died of leukemia in 2006.
Norma is survived by her daughter, Tara Ann Graytock Neville, and her husband, Thomas J. Neville III, of Williamsburg; her six grandchildren, Thomas J. “Tommy” Neville IV (and his wife, Kirsten), Trey Jacob Neville (and his wife, Kimberly), Trent James Neville, Tyler John Neville, Taylor Ann Neville, and Todd Joshua Neville; and her two great-grandchildren, Avery and Tommy V.
A visitation and brief ceremony will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Bucktrout Funeral Home, 4124 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, Virginia.
A burial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Fairfax Memorial Park Cemetery in Fairfax, Virginia.
A reception will follow, with details to be announced.
The family warmly welcomes all who knew or loved Norma to attend.
