Jeffersonville - Norman James Rooney died in his home at Mann’s Meadow surrounded by family on Sunday, July 5th, 2020 after a valiant battle with COPD. Dutch, as he was known to his family and friends, was the youngest of 5 children, born at home in Cambridge, Vermont to the late Raymond Wilfred and Mabelle Helen (Barry) Rooney, on March 4, 1934. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1952, by which time he had already lost both of his parents. Upon graduation, he joined the US Navy, serving from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War aboard the Mindoro (CVE120) and Leyte (CVS32) aircraft carriers. Upon honorable discharge, he worked at Pratt & Whitney in North Haven, CT, before joining General Electric Co. in Burlington, VT, where he worked for 28 years as a sheet metal manufacturing planner and NCM programmer. On June 27, 1959, he married the love of his life, Geraldene (Machia) Rooney, at St. Mary’s Church in Cambridge, Vermont, with whom he raised five children. Dutch loved being outdoors, fishing and hunting, playing softball, golf and horseshoes. His family was his biggest pride and joy. He enjoyed teaching the kids to swim, cheering from the sidelines at his children and grandchildren’s sporting events, attending dance recitals and celebrating graduations. He was sometimes pulled from the stands to umpire baseball and softball games behind the plate. For many years, he enjoyed traveling the contiguous 48 states with Gerry by RV, visiting family and making friends, wintering at their home in Lake Placid, Florida. He was a member of the 6:30 a.m. coffee club at Hanley’s store in Jeffersonville where he will be missed for his sense of humor and the sparkle in his eye. He was an enthusiastic card player, enjoying the company of neighbors and friends at Mann’s Meadow. In his retirement, he enjoyed carpentry (and friendship) with Terry McCuin. Norman was a faith-filled Catholic, a parishioner of St. Mary’s in Cambridge where he volunteered for the annual church suppers and helped with the parish rectory building project. His faith sustained him through the childhood loss of his parents, and he credited his daily devotions for allowing him to achieve 37 years of sobriety, of which his family was very proud. He was predeceased by his step-mother Harriet Humphrey Rooney, his brother Donald Rooney, and sisters Teresa Kittell, CharAnn Rooney, and Beverly Pollander. Dutch leaves his adored wife Gerry, their children Michael Rooney & partner Amy Delorme of Burlington, VT, Robert Rooney & wife Kathy of Greenfield, NH, Matthew Rooney and wife Bobbi of Hyde Park, VT, Kathy Snell & husband Peter of Shelburne, VT, Donna Rooney-Stalker & husband Harold of New Marlborough, MA, beloved cultural exchange son Eduardo Alvarez, of David, Panama, grandchildren Kaitlin Rooney of Freedom, NH, Zachary Rooney of Hillsborough, NH, Carolyn & Andrew Snell of Shelburne, VT, and Alicia Delorme of Burlington, VT. He is survived by his sisters- and brothers-in-law Carol Rooney of Joppa, MD, John Sotingco of Anaheim, CA, Richard and Peg Machia of Cambridge, Jane and Terry Shaw of Jeffersonville, Lynda Cootware of Essex, and several dear nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be held for the immediate family with internment at St. George’s Cemetery in Bakersfield with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Norman Rooney to St. Mary’s Parish in Cambridge, and Lamoille County Home Health and Hospice in Morrisville. Special thanks to Father Christopher Micale, Dr. Laura Norris, Dr. Garth Garrison, Lamoille County Home Health staff, and Lincare. Arrangements are by A.W. Rich Funeral Home online condolences may be left at awrfh.com.