Obituary of Barbara Jean Norman

Barbara Norman passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness surrounded by family and friends. She was 60 years old. Barbara was born in Visalia, California to Patricia and William Warmerdam. The family moved to Aptos in 1969. The Warmerdam household was full of activity with eventually eight children. Faith, family and Aptos high school sports were a constant, though not always in that order. Barbara was an Aptos girl all the way playing little league, volleyball and basketball. She was at her father’s side as the statistics keeper for Aptos Boys Basketball. She worked and had fun at the snack shack at Seacliff beach with her good friend Margie. Barbara had a kind and loving heart and worked with Reverend Peter Carota at the Soup Kitchen when it was in a small building on Beach Street across from the Boardwalk. It was there that a young man working as a landscaper for the Seaside Company caught her eye They would meet eventually with Rome, the young man, uttering the classic pick-up line “what are you doing here?” Thus began a 40-year adventure together. They had two sons, Billy and Michael, and enjoyed many family activities including camping and trips to the beach. Another constant was the weekend barbecue at the Warmerdam house. Barbara worked as a waitress and as a registered home health aide for Visiting Nurses Association until a back injury ended her working career. There was a 15-year gap with the birth of twins Tony and Sammy. She was always interested in others whether they were her children’s friends or parents or the many people she met while attending her meetings or her children's sports and activities. In recent years Barbara enjoyed RV trips with her husband going to casinos and she usually won, too. Barbara especially enjoyed getting away to their home in Apple Valley, California. Barbara was predeceased by her father Bill Warmerdam, brother Billy and sisters Mary, Kathy, and Joanne and her mother and father in-law Larry and Marina Norman She is survived by her husband Rome, children Billy, Michael, Tony and Sammy Norman, her grandchildren Gunnar, and Michael Norman Jr, her mother Patricia Warmerdam, sisters Susie Biondi (Tony), Heidi Thomas (Jim), brother Cris Warmerdam and numerous nieces and nephews, and her dear friend Karen Darocy. The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at PAMF and at Dominican Hospital who provided her with incredible care and kindness. There will be a Memorial for Barbara at Resurrection Church in Aptos on February 24th at 1:00 pm. followed by a reception in the church hall. Donations may be made in Barbara’s memory to St, Francis Catholic Kitchen, 205 Mora Street, Santa Cruz 95060.