Norma Jean Weaver

In whatever she did Norma Weaver was selfless in every way and was always more concerned with the needs of others than she was with her own. She was a devoted mother if ever there was one, and as much as she loved this role she just may have argued that her 15 grandchildren were her greatest gift. Normas life was not without obstacles and challenges, but she was accompanied by a quiet strength that helped her face whatever came her way. She was a lifelong resident of the Muskegon community and with a life that spanned more than 80 years, her impact in the lives of those around her was significant. A woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out, Norma will be deeply missed and warmly remembered. As the decade of the thirties dawned in America people braced themselves for some of the most trying days our nation has ever seen due to the crippling grip of the Great Depression. Countless Americans found themselves without work, which later left them without homes, and left families doing whatever they could to weather the storm. People celebrated where they could, however, and it was in 1931 that a young couple from Muskegon, Michigan, was eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby. Their wait ended a bit earlier than expected when their baby girl was born early weighing in at just under four pounds. The proud parents, John and Evelyn (Runzel) Privasky, were understandably concerned about the little girl they named Norma Jean, but they did what they could to care for her in a generation that had little to offer in terms of medical knowledge and assistance for premature babies. The young couple kept their newborn bundle in a roasting pan with hot water bottles and blankets in the oven in order to keep her alive. Once Norma grew a bit older, her upbringing looked similar to the experiences of other young people of her generation. Her father was a sergeant with the Muskegon County Sheriffs Department while her mother was a homemaker. She was the only child in her family and was raised in the family home on Aue Road in Muskegon. As a young girl Norma enjoyed going to church, taking piano and dance lessons, and ice skating and roller skating. She was a student in the first class to attend Henry Street School and loved spending time with John Goresch and Barb and Dodee Privasky. Along with her parents Norma was very active at church and also at the Slovak Hall. There were also fun-filled trips to Chicago and Flint to visit relatives on a regular basis. As a family of three they also played cards together frequently, usually canasta. Despite being hearing impaired from birth, Norma never let it hold her back and learned how to read lips by taking classes. In fact, she got so good at reading lips that she even won the state lip reading award on one occasion. Norma graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1949. Normas education didnt end there as she went on to graduate from Muskegon Business College in 1968. Although she accomplished many things throughout her life, there was nothing Norma was more proud of than becoming a mother to her five wonderful children: Gary, John, Terry, Lori, and Mary Ellen. As a mother she was completely devoted and selfless, commonly going without so that she could give her children what they needed and wanted. Norma worked hard through the years and was employed as a timekeeper at Muskegon Piston Ring for many years. She later worked as a dietary aid at Seaway Care Center in Roosevelt Park until she retired. Throughout her life there was nothing Norma loved more than spending time with her family. She and her children often played cards with their friends, Tom and Judy, and Normas job was to bring her amazing fudge. The holidays were always such special times to her, especially because it was a time for her family to gather together. Norma was overjoyed when her family grew to include 15 grandchildren who were the light of her life. She loved being with them no matter what they were doing whether it was listening to them talk about what was going on in their lives or playing card games like Skip-Bo and Phase 10. It isnt hard to imagine how excited Norma was to be blessed with nine great-grandchildren later in life. When she wasnt with her family Norma enjoyed many other things. She always looked forward to spending time with friends, often to play cards. Norma also liked bowling and playing bingo, making ceramics and doing intricate puzzles with at least 500 pieces. After she retired she had more time to pursue her interests and became more involved in the community at Jefferson Towers where she lived for many years. Some of her favorite activities there were playing bingo and helping with various potlucks and other activities that were available to the residents. For many years Norma treasured the companionship of her cat, Noel. She adored her feline friend and was deeply saddened when the cat died last spring. Through the life she lived each day Norma Weaver exemplified what it means to genuinely love others. Although she could be a bit stubborn when it came to matters she felt passionate about Norma was kindhearted and completely devoted to helping others in ways both great and small. She had a great sense of humor and could make us laugh every time we saw her. We will miss Normas courage and her fun-loving spirit, but most of all we will miss her gentle touch. Her memory will remain a lasting treasure for generations to come. Norma J. Weaver died on Sunday, February 19, 2012. Normas family includes her sons, Gary (Nora) Privasky, John (Penny) Weaver, Terry (Lisa) Weaver; daughters, Lori (John) Moser, Mary Ellen Weaver (Brandon) Herbert; 15 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012, 2:00 p.m. with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon. Memorials can be made to the charity of your choice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.