Nora Monica Derwin was born in Mullingar, Ireland. At the age of 10 she began acting and at the age of 20 she wrote her first poem. As a child, Nora was encouraged by her mother to paint Christmas cards for friends and family. In 1956 Nora and her husband Michael emigrated to America where they raised three children, Kevin, Mark and Ann.
Nora has 5 grandchildren and is the Tiger Woods of her bridge club.