Norma Jean (Johnson) Ebb, known as Jean, of Danvers died peacefully on Monday, October 19, 2026 at the Brudnick Center for Living. She was 92.
She was born on April 19, 1934 in Chappell, Nebraska to Anton and Sylvia Johnson and grew up on the family farm with her older siblings, Clifford, Marjorie and Doris, riding a horse to a one-room schoolhouse before Chappell High School. At Luther College she met Carl “Jake” Ebb of Bristol, Conn.; they married on June 13, 1954 and moved to New England, where she raised five daughters while he served as pastor to four Lutheran congregations. Her church was the center of her life. She sang in the choir, played the organ and piano and volunteered for years, and her favorite hymn was “Jesus Loves Me.” Jake died after 33 years of marriage.
She leaves her daughters and their families; her grandchildren, Dan, Tim, Kristin, Kelsey, Jake, Michael, Macky, Steven, Erika and Alex; her great-grandchildren, Eva, Emilia, Julia, Gavin, Margot and Cassius; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and her grand-dog, Sam, who stayed by her side to the end. Her parents, her siblings, her nephew Rodney and several in-laws died before her. The family thanks the staff at Brudnick and Care Dimensions Hospice, and her friend and caregiver Sandra.
A memorial service and celebration of life is Friday, October 30 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan Street, Danvers, also streamed on the church’s YouTube channel. The family suggests donations to Calumet Lutheran Ministries, P.O. Box 236, West Ossipee, NH 03890, or Holy Trinity United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by O’Donnell Cremations, Funerals and Celebrations, Danvers.
Compiled from information published by O'Donnell Cremations, Funerals, Celebrations. Photograph courtesy of the family via O'Donnell Cremations, Funerals, Celebrations. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
