Norma Jennie Latouf

Norma Jennie Latouf, 80
PORTLAND -- Norma Jennie Latouf, 80, died during the early hours of Friday, April 22, 2011, after a long illness.
Norma was born Norma Jennie Newbury on May 29, 1930, in Rockland. Norma had an enormous capacity for compassion and kindness, with an equal capacity for mischief. Some of her favorite things were family, friends, penguins, flowers, people watching, and good gossip. Norma always had a smile, a kind word and gentle touch for those around her. A sweet old lady, she could tease, instigate and quip with the best of them.
Norma was raised in Thomaston by her father, Stanley Warren Newbury Sr. When her father was drafted into WWII in 1942, Norma was sent to live with an aunt in Boston, taking the train to Boston by herself at the age of 12. Norma remembered that the trains were slow back then, so she got to see more. Norma graduated from Roslindale High School in 1948 and Boston Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. While a nurse at Boston City Hospital, Norma met her husband, Joseph Latouf in 1960. Norma and Joseph raised their five children in Boston.
After her husband Joseph died in 1982, Norma returned to Maine and lived in Brunswick. Norma continued her nursing career as the Director of Nursing at Brunswick Convalescent Home. Norma also taught CNA classes for various nursing homes in the Brunswick- Freeport- Yarmouth area and at the former SMVTI in South Portland. With her children grown she did not suffer from empty nest syndrome, she went on adventures. If she could not corral a friend, she would take a tour by herself and make a busload of new friends.
In 1992, Norma moved to California to be Nanny to her grandson Christian. She lived in Stockholm, Sweden for nearly two years with her daughter Beth and family, and Norma traveled through Europe, with her family and alone with the sense of adventure of a young person. Norma did not need company to explore. She was perfectly content to go with a tour group (of Swedish speaking persons) to see the tulips in Holland, remarking that you do not need to speak Swedish or Dutch to appreciate tulips. Norma returned to Maine in 2001 and has lived in Portland since, with the same sense of adventure and
Norma Jennie Latouf
Jones, Rich & Hutchins
Funeral Home & Cremation Service
775-3763
curiosity that she lived the beginning of her life.
Norma was predeceased by her husband, Joseph P. Latouf; father, Stanley W. Newbury Sr.; sister, Muriel Young Poland, brother, Stanley W. Newbury Jr.; and her dear friend, Maxine Mathews. Norma is survived by daughter, Elizabeth Latouf Chesterman and son-in-law Thomas Chesterman of Maraga, Calif., daughter, Gail Latouf and son-in-law William Knowles of Portland, son, Michael Latouf of Clarksville, Ark., daughter, Christina Latouf and son-in-law Thomas Curington of Brooklyn, N.Y., son, Peter Latouf of Freeport; grandson, Christian Chesterman of Ashland, Ore., grandson, Noah Chesterman of Maraga, Calif., step-grandson, John Knowles of Boulder, Colo.; and many friends who loved her.
Throughout her life Norma gave care, comfort and love to many people, including her five children, family and thousands of patients she treated as a nurse. Norma's family would like to thank the staff of the Barron Center in Portland, where she lived for the past two years. During her final years and long illness, the Barron Center staff provided her with skilled care, love, comfort and compassion. When Norma died, she was surrounded by her family, friends and the Barron Center staff who loved her like family.
A time of visitation will be on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, from 6-8 p.m., at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Prayers will be recited on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 9 a.m., at the funeral home, to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Interment will be on April 29, 2011, at 1 p.m., in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass. Memorial services to celebrate Norma's life for the Barron Center staff and residents will be on April 28, 2011, at 2 p.m., at the Barron Center, and then on May 6, 2011, at the home of Beth and Tom Chesterman in Maraga, Calif. Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Norma's guest book.