Nora Dilks Obituary

On the quiet afternoon of August 4, 2025, Nora Fran Gazdick Dilks passed peacefully in her sleep. She was 77 years old. Her passing, caused by complications from a stroke and bowel obstruction, marked the close of a life defined by grace, creativity, resilience, and deep, abiding love. Born in Philadelphia on October 9, 1947, to Emma and Clarence "Jerry" Gazdick, Nora was a child strung by an outlet of creativity. Even as a young girl, she possessed the curious hands of a maker; always sewing, sketching, and dreaming in color. A graduate of Souderton Area High School in 1963 and later Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, she earned her Bachelor's in Art and Fashion Design, and with it, carved out a path uniquely her own. For years, Nora wove her vision into the pages of McCall's Needlework and Crafts Magazine, where her original designs bloomed in print. Her artistry brought soft detail to the world of patterns and stitch work. She brought stories to life in fabric and thread, designing soft dolls that captured the innocence of childhood and the joy of handmade play. One of her proudest achievements was winning the design competition for the Cape May town flag, a lasting emblem in the town that cradled her fondest memories. Nora's life was not only stitched together with thread, but with people. She was a loving mother to her daughter, Anastasia Dilks Hanneken, and a grandmother of immeasurable tenderness to Meredith, Thomas, and Michael Burley, who knew her as a woman of soft hands, matching slippers, and a welcoming heart. Though she and Ronald P. Dilks later parted ways, their story brought forth a strong willed woman representing quiet strength. She is also survived by two small companions with wagging tails and warm eyes, her dogs, Teddy and Milo. Preceded in death by her parents, Nora lived much of her life in Telford, Pennsylvania, a town she poured her heart into as the Principal of the Souderton Area School District's Adult Evening School and Summer Recreation Program. She was an advocate for education, a proud member of the Souderton Area Education Foundation, and a guiding light to countless students seeking enrichment long after formal schooling ended. A woman of Lutheran faith, Nora found her sanctuary not just in church rhythms, but in the click of knitting needles, in the scent of a home-cooked meal, and in the hushed lullabies sung to her grandchildren in the backseat of a car headed to Cape May. Even as age and illness dimmed her mobility, her love and passion for family, friends, and the heart of Cape May never softened. In her final months, Nora made her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the ocean breeze and the company of family brought her peace. Surrounded by love, she spent her final months in the warmth of her family's home, filled with laughter and the scent of homemade meals. Though far from the town where her life began, Myrtle Beach became a tender closing chapter filled with sunlit afternoons, familiar voices, and the steady comfort of being home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 7 at 11:00 AM at McMillan-Small Funeral Home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She will be laid to rest on Monday, August 11 at 2:00 PM at West Hill Cemetery in Galeton, Pennsylvania, beside her beloved parents in the peaceful mountains they last called home. For those who wish to attend or send condolences, more information can be found by calling 201-370-5742. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Clete Canone Scholarship Fund, a cause that reflects Nora's lifelong belief in the transformative power of learning. Contributions may also be directed to her daughter, Anastasia Hanneken. Knowing Nora meant witnessing the beauty of a life lived with open hands and an open heart. Her spirit was generous without need for recognition. "In Cape May, the sun sets twice - once on the horizon, and once in your heart." To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nora Fran Dilks, please visit our floral store.