Cover photo for Nora Q. Waystack's Obituary
Nora Q. Waystack Profile Photo

Nora Q. Waystack

March 16, 1948 — August 27, 2019

Nora Q. Waystack

Nora (Quinlan) Waystack, a resident of Newburyport, Massachusetts and New Harbor, Maine, passed away after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer at the Kaplan Family Hospice House on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at age 71.

Nora was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 16, 1948, one of four children of the late Eleanor (Cuomo) and Farrell Quinlan. Raised in Sunapee, New Hampshire where her parents operated the Indian Cave Lodge, Nora graduated from Sunapee High School and Regis College.

Nora was a magnet in life. She effortlessly gathered people around her with incredible grace, beauty, compassion, approachability, sensitivity, and her great faith in God. Nora provided unconditional, nonjudgmental support and friendship to everyone she met. She collected new friends in life everywhere she went. A gracious host, she gracefully hosted friends and family to Newburyport, or to New Harbor. Warm, and always positive in the face of enduring challenges, Nora was an inspiration and will remain an inspiration for her family and friends.

Always dressed impeccably, Nora subscribed to shopping as therapy, and her closet was proof. While a fashionista, she always loved a bargain, and delighted in the joy of buying presents for others. Nora and Peter shared wonderful memories that spanned New England and beyond. She enjoyed trips to Italy, Bermuda, and St. Martin, but was happiest at home working on her flowers in Newburyport or Maine. When not gardening, Nora was also a tennis enthusiast. Playing tennis brought comfort, and her tennis friends became a source of strength that grew from weekly tennis matches in New Harbor.

Nora was a devoted parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. Her Catholic faith was an incredible source of strength and helped push her through multiple cancer challenges. However, it was in these most difficult moments that Nora's uplifting faith and positive spirit burned brightest.

Nora had a natural glow that drew people to her from every sector of society. She always saw the good in every person she ever came into contact and went out of her way to brighten the day of everyone she met. She will be deeply and sorely missed, but her story will forever be an inspiration to all who knew her, for as Nora said the "good goes around."

Nora was the cherished wife of F. Peter Waystack with whom she shared 33 years of marriage. Devoted mother of Paul A. Cavicchio and his wife Craig Anne Lake of Boston, Sarah Jackson and her husband Ryan of N. Hampton, NH, and the late Brian P. Cavicchio and his surviving wife Victoria Theroux of Exeter, NH. Caring sister of Claire Quinlan of Salem, OR, Katherine Ward of Andover, NH, and the late Patrick Quinlan. Loving grandmother of Lila and Dorian.

Family & friends are invited to gather in honor of Nora's life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Thursday, September 5 from 4-8pm, and for her Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church, 42 Green St., Newburyport celebrated on Friday, Sept. 6 at 10:30am. Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery, Newburyport. Gifts in Nora's memory may be made to Lahey Clinic, Liver Cancer Research, c/o Dr. Keith Stuart, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington MA 01805.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Nora Q. Waystack, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, September 5, 2019

4:00 - 8:00 pm

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Mass

Friday, September 6, 2019

Starts at 10:30 am

Immaculate Conception Church

42 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Friday, September 6, 2019

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Photo Gallery

Guestbook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree