Norma Jean Pribyl Sleeper

Norma Jean Pribyl SLEEPER Norma P. Sleeper (87) passed peacefully on March 18, 2011 from congestive heart failure. She was born in New York City on November 14, 1923 to Czechoslo vakian parents, Frank George and Antoinette (Kerbeck) Pribyl. Her mother, "Nettie K.," sang opera at Carnegie Hall and re corded many RCA records. A gifted musician herself, Norma took voice, piano and violin lessons as a child, attended the Von Trapp Family Music Camp in Stowe, Vermont, and graduat ed from the NYC High School of Music and Art in 1941, where she majored in music. She sang with several professional choirs in NYC as a soloist, and later played first violin with the Boston Philharmonic Symphony. Norma gave private music lessons in pia no, violin and voice, accompanied Suzuki Violin students on piano, and played violin in several dif ferent orchestras and quartets. To hear classical music or exquisite violin solos is to hear the very essence of Norma's musical passion. Norma married her New Hamp shire-born, Navy officer hus band, William Hobbs Sleeper II, in 1945 during World War II. Hap pily married for 66 years, they shared a joyful, committed mar riage that inspired everyone who knew them. Norma and Bill were true-blue Easterners, yet ended up bi-coastal due to Bill's engineering jobs: They lived in Hackensack, NJ, Winchester, MA, Liverpool, NY, Seattle, WA, Cazenovia, NY, Seattle, WA, Bed ford, MA, and finally returned a third time to Seattle nearly seven years ago in order to be close to their children: Bill (Lynne) Sleeper and Barbara Sleeper; three grandchildren, Kelly (Tim) Galloway, Dave (Katie) Citron, and Josh Citron; and their six great-grandchildren, Gretta and Grady Galloway and Paige, Claire, Sam and Noah Citron. Norma was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Frank G. Pribyl II. She is survived by all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister- in-law, Lorraine Pribyl, (Hender sonville, N.C.); and her beloved husband, "Buzzy," who proudly referred to her as his "child bride" to the last day of her life. Norma will be forever missed, especially her beautiful smile and contagious giggle. We hope you and your favorite dog, Muffy, are now reunited, Mom. May your happy adventures continue. Please Sign Norma's on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com