Irma NORMAN Obituary

NORMAN, Irma Lee Packard passed away on August 14, 2021 at the age of 95 at her daughter's home in Seminole, Florida. A native Floridian, Irma was born in Cocoa, Florida. While a student at Florida Southern College, she met Edward Norman, whose soon-to-be job as a Methodist Minister would take them throughout the state. They married in 1947 and welcomed their first son, Jim Ed in 1948. Other than a brief time in Iowa while Ed attended Seminary, they lived in and were loved by many Florida communities including Bowling Green, the birthplace of their son George, and Tarpon Springs, where daughter Jane was born. In Tarpon, Irma also began her career as a schoolteacher and continued teaching after moves to Titusville (1961) and Bradenton (1968). In 1972, Ed and Irma moved to Tallahassee where she focused on ministerial support. It was typical for her to host professors and students from Florida State, missionaries from around the world and members of State government at her table. In 1976, they moved to St. Petersburg where they spent the last years of their ministry serving the Pasadena Community Church. They retired to Tarpon Springs in 1987. A member of the United Methodist Women, P.E.O. Sisterhood, and Delta Kappa Gamma, Irma also enjoyed walking in 5k competitions, often coming in first in her age group. She could also be found in the bleachers supporting her grandchildren, attending her beloved Florida Orchestra, or greeting her neighbors from her porch as they passed. Whether baking her famous sheet cake or making sure people had rides to doctors and to the grocery store, Irma had a true heart of service. Irma was preceded in death by her husband, Ed. She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Children's Home https://www.fumch.org/

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Published by Tampa Bay Times on Aug. 22, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Irma NORMAN

6 Entries

Kellie

April 10, 2023

This truly breaks my heart in so many ways. Irma has been on my mind and I never wanted to research her for fear of finding this. She was such an amazing upbeat woman. She was a customer at my store and soon she became a great friend. I will always hold dear in my heart how she would wait for me to come give her a big hug before she would leave and tell me just keep being you. That smile from such a little lady will always be in my heart. My condolences to the family, the world has lost an amazing strong and loving woman.

Fred Harrison

September 2, 2021

Sending our sincere condolences from the Harrison family: Fred, Johanne, Laurie, Jon, and Kelsie.

Patrick Callan

September 1, 2021

I was sorry to get word of Irma's death recently. I knew both Irma and Ed for many years. In more recent years, Irma was a fixture in our Sunday School class at Pasadena Community Church where we studied, among other things, with a video series called Living the Questions. Although as always unassuming, she often had some insightful comments to make and her reasoned opinions about many things of spiritual and other matters. She was one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure to know in my life. In my experience she usually took a bit of a back seat to Ed, who was and still is my favorite minister. But she had plenty of substance in her own right, and I really enjoyed my friendship with her. I appreciated her concern for my wife as she suffered with dementia these last years.
We also shared a love for classical music and often saw each other at Ruth Eckerd Hall for the Florida Orchestra.
I am grateful to have known and learned from Irma. However, heaven works, I hope she and Ed are reunited for eternity.

Bonnie Kelley

August 24, 2021

When I joined the Beta Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Irma befriended me and picked me up on her way to meetings from her home in Tarpon Springs. She encouraged me to participate in the Florida Leadership Seminar which led to me being Chapter President. Even my husband knew who she was! I drove Irma to her last state meeting and always enjoyed our shared conversations in the car. What an inspiration to all she met!

Kathy Robertson

August 22, 2021

Irma was a member of United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church, Tarpon Springs. The photo was taken at our June picnic at Lake Seminole Park. Irma was an inspiration to all of her UMW sisters; a true role model. She always opened her home for our January planning session and always had a delicious abundance of snacks and desserts to share. Following are some of the comments from her sisters when they heard of her passing.

Irma was some kind of woman and what an example to follow!!
I just loved that lady. She was such a blessing and we will miss her wisdom. I do not know of anyone more ready to meet her maker. I truly feel she is at peace. May we honor her memory. She was always an inspiration to everyone. Such a sweet lady. I am so glad I was able to get to know her. Irma was sweet and a true woman of God. She really kept us on our toes. Prayers to her family and friends.

Mary Ellen Meier Gardner

August 22, 2021

Your mother was such a blessing to our family!!! She loved my Mother, Frances Meier, who died a year ago this month. They had so much fun together!

Irma was so special to me as a minister's wife and we enjoyed working together for many years at the Minister's Mates' Retreat.

Your family is in our prayers and thoughts at this time of loss and celebration of her wonderful life.

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