As an admired and respected attorney who was named one of the "Best Lawyers in America," Lynette Norton was able to balance an active life — whether she was arguing a case in a courtroom or raising sheep on her Westmoreland County farm. "When it came to insurance coverage, Lynette was one of the best-known attorneys in the field," said her husband, Anthony Picadio. "And yet, when she could get away, she enjoyed spending time on our farm in Stahlstown." Lynette Norton, a resident of Stahlstown, Westmoreland County, died from a cerebral hemorrhage on Saturday, March 23, 2002. She was 55. "Lynette was an avid gardener, who enjoyed raising sheep on our farm," said her husband. "She was also a very good horsewoman who rode the trails through Westmoreland County. It was her way of relaxing." Picadio recalled his wife's cooking skills — an art she learned from her mother. "I have an Italian background, and Lynette made some excellent Italian dishes for me. She enjoyed cooking for the entire family during the holidays." While on the job, Ms. Norton, as she was known professionally, wrote what is considered the leading textbook on insurance coverage law, said Picadio, and had acquired a national reputation. Her name appeared in the book "The Best Lawyers in America," a referral guide by Woodward/White Inc., and she held the position of vice chairperson of the Commission on Women in the Profession, as part of her membership in the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She also served on the board of governors of the American Bar Association. Colleagues and friends, such as attorneys Yale Gutnick and E.J. Strassburger, said Ms. Norton was the type of person who put the world, her family, friends and clients, and even her dog, Murphy, before herself. And, they added, Ms. Norton, behind her businesslike facade, was a wonderfully sensitive and caring person. Her brother, Tom Kudes, recalled how his sister and brother-in-law opened their home to host underprivileged youngsters. "My sister was the kind of a person who lit up a room when she walked in. She was so positive. People were happy to see her. Lynette was a role model. How often I heard acquaintances say how they hoped their children would grow up to be like Lynette." Kudes said his sister was artistically inclined when it came to creating gifts for friends. "She also designed her own Christmas cards and took the photographs that went with them," he said. Born and raised in Shaler Township, Lynette Kudes was one of four children in the family of William and Ann Pollock Kudes. In 1964, following graduation from Shaler High School, Lynette received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from Duquesne University. Little did Picadio realize when he was teaching environmental law at Duquesne University that someday he would marry Lynette Kudes, who was a student in his class. "We met again in the early 1980s when Lynette came to work at Tucker Arensberg, where I was associated. We were married in 1985." Prior to joining Tucker Arensberg, Ms. Norton was a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Maurice Cohill. In 1989, she was one of the founders and a partner in the law firm Picadio McCall Miller and Norton, with offices Downtown. Ms. Norton is survived by her husband, Anthony Picadio; parents, William and Ann Pollock Kudes of Shaler; brothers, Thomas Kudes of Franklin Park and Gary Kudes of Phoenix; a sister, Cindy Flerman of Los Angeles; and six nieces and a nephew. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. today in Holy Trinity Church, Ligonier, with the Rev. Joseph P. Maddalena as celebrant. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. April 2 at St. Paul's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, Oakland. Arrangements by Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, Bell and East Church streets, Ligonier. Elizabeth Snyder Bloom, funeral director. Interment in Ligonier Valley Cemetery. The family requests that memorial donations be made in Ms. Norton's memory to the Extra Mile Education Fund, 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

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