Norma J. Fazakerley

Fiercely independent, Norma Fazakerley lived a very active life well into her later years. Blessed with an abundant and loving family, she relished her role as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Generous beyond measure, there simply wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for her family or a friend in need. She enjoyed many years of restoring antique furniture and perfecting her delicious recipes for homemade ham, baked beans, potato salad, and applesauce. Deeply loved, Norma leaves behind a rich collection of warm memories for her friends and her loved ones to cherish forever.

Looking back on the 1920s, it was a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge. By 1926, The Ford Motor Company announced the creation of the 40-hour work week! With the media focused on jazz music and celebrities, especially sports heroes and movie figures, Lawrence and Marie (Bouman) Demerest, welcomed home their newborn baby girl, Norma June on March 4, 1926, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Norma arrived at the height of the Roaring Twenties yet never forgot the impact of the Great Depression during her growing up years. Those who lived during this period of time gained the strength to see them through the most challenging economic times.

Norma lived a typical childhood of the times. Growing up in the Black Hills area of Grand Rapids, she attended local schools. She met her future husband, Don Fazakerley, while still in high school. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy during wartime. Proudly serving between 1944 and 1946, as soon as he was discharged they continued plans for their wedding ceremony in 1947. The newlyweds settled in a home on Oxford Street NW and started their family. Together they raised two wonderful children; Barbara and Craig. Her children were her pride and joy! Always providing for the family they loved, Don worked for Consumers Power and Norma worked as a bookkeeper.

Later they moved to Rypens Street in Walker. She and Don made a loving home for their children and enjoyed providing many lasting memories together over the years. The children were accustomed to the music of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra played in the family home as well as the many special holidays they celebrated. Norma was known to adorn their home with many creative decorations over the years and paid attention to every detail each and every season. Her decorations were meticulously planned as well as her meals as each celebration together was meant to be special.

When the kids were grown, Norma and Don enjoyed many years of travel. They favored traveling south scouring the antique markets and visiting the famous landmarks in New Orleans, Branson, and the southern plantations. Always one to be active, she continued her love of antiques and worked at the local Happy Apple Antique store where she made many lasting friendships over the years. Sadly, Don passed in the year 2000 leaving Norma to live on her own. His loss was a terrible shock to Norma yet she found comfort in the hearts of her supportive family and friends who saw her through.

Norma was a loving mother through and through. She savored each and every holiday with her family and looked forward to welcoming each new grandchild over the years. Children were a delight to her! Her love for her family was evident in her ability to spoil each and every one of them over the years. Nothing brought her greater joy than knowing that they were well cared for and well-fed! She also enjoyed hosting visits from her cousins or going to visit them. Whenever she was surrounded by loved ones her heart was content.

Norma had a love for reading and did so at every opportunity. At the nursing home where she resided during the later part of her life, she often read books from the library there along with the many books her niece, Karen would bring for her to read. Norma also enjoyed searching for the greatest bargain, visiting Bob Evans for a bite of their delicious banana bread or a slice of pumpkin pie. Born with a sweet tooth, Norma also enjoyed a cookie for a treat! No matter what, she craved the time she spent with her growing family. Each and every visit she cherished catching up and getting a chance to see how the grandchildren had grown. Immensely proud of the young adults they had become, Norma was pleased to share in their every success!

Remarkably blessed to witness the expansion of her family, Norma lived her life without regret. It was no surprise that she had lived into her nineties. She was often one to look on the bright side and didn’t let much ruffle her feathers. Surely Norma will be deeply missed yet her many special memories and her quiet spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Norma June Fazakerley, age 93, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. Along with her parents, Norma is preceded in death by her husband Donald; daughter Barbara Young; and grandson-in-law, Jacob Craft. She is survived by her son, Craig (Marie) Fazakerley; grandchildren, Heather (Matt) Cooper, Jason (Leslie) Fazakerley, Lance (Ashly) Fazakerley and Sarah Fazakerley Craft; great-grandchildren, Grace and Jack Cooper and Jalie, Summer and Landon Fazakerley; and many nieces and nephews. Norma enjoyed antiquing and caring for flowers and plants, as well as traveling down South. Her funeral service will take place at 2 PM on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Family and friends will gather for one hour prior to the service. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Contributions in her memory may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to submit a favorite memory, photo or sign the guestbook.