Norma
Norma Grady
d. August 9, 2014
Obituary for Norma Grady
Norma Grady, 94, of Hibbing passed away peacefully Saturday night, August 9, 2014 at Greenview Residence in Hibbing.
She was born March 22, 1920 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Mary and Sam Becicka. She was the eighth of ten children: six girls, four boys. Her family moved to Goodland, Mn., when Norma was one year old, then later to Warba, Mn.
Norma graduated from Nashwauk High School in 1938. She married Lawrence William Grady from Hibbing on December 11, 1940 in Duluth, Mn.. They traveled the country and lived for extended stays in Pueblo, Co., Lexington, Ky., and Wheeling, WV., before settling in Chicago, Il., in 1942. In Chicago, Norma worked for Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator while Lawrence was a very successful musician, playing drums and vibraphone at downtown hotels. After ten years in Chicago, they returned to the Iron Range.
After years as a housewife and mother, Norma re-entered the work force as an Admitting Clerk at Hibbing General Hospital. After the passing of husband Lawrence in 1981, she worked as a volunteer at Fairview Hospital for many years. She was also very active in St. James Episcopal church. She traveled frequently to Pennsylvania and California to visit her sons and their families.
Norma was well-loved and appreciated for her unshakable consideration and kindness to her friends and family. Her spirit and wit will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
She is survived by her brother, Retired Colonel Leonard Becicka of Kansas City, Missouri; her two sons; Dennis, of Soquel, Ca., and Michael, “Mickey” of Honesdale, Pa.; five grandchildren, Shannon of Soquel, Ca., Mary of Aptos, Ca., Christopher Still of Boulder Creek, Ca., Brendan of Honesdale, Pa., Rylan of Los Angeles, Ca.; and four great grandchildren, Terrance James “TJ”, and Sadie of Soquel, Ca., Taylor and Ella Grace of Boulder Creek, Ca.
Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers; Lewis, William, and Leslie; and five sisters, Edith, Libby, Mary, Agnes, and Martha.
The family wants to warmly acknowledge the loving care and attention she received from her beloved nephews and their wives, Gary and Kathleen Becicka of Hibbing, and Alan and Mert Becicka of Hoyt Lakes, Mn. The family also would like to warmly acknowledge the loving care and attention she received from the staff at Greenview Residence and the 7th Avenue Apartments in her final years.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, in the St. James Episcopal Church, Hibbing. The Rev. Sally Maxwell will officiate. Visitation will be in the church from 10 am. until service time. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home.
Norma Grady, 94, of Hibbing passed away peacefully Saturday night, August 9, 2014 at Greenview Residence in Hibbing.
She was born March 22, 1920 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Mary and Sam Becicka. She was the eighth of ten children: six girls, four boys. Her family moved to Goodland, Mn., when Norma was one year old, then later to Warba, Mn.
Norma graduated from Nashwauk High School in 1938. She married Lawrence William Grady from Hibbing on December 11, 1940 in Duluth, Mn.. They traveled the country and lived for extended stays in Pueblo, Co., Lexington, Ky., and Wheeling, WV., before settling in Chicago, Il., in 1942. In Chicago, Norma worked for Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator while Lawrence was a very successful musician, playing drums and vibraphone at downtown hotels. After ten years in Chicago, they returned to the Iron Range.
After years as a housewife and mother, Norma re-entered the work force as an Admitting Clerk at Hibbing General Hospital. After the passing of husband Lawrence in 1981, she worked as a volunteer at Fairview Hospital for many years. She was also very active in St. James Episcopal church. She traveled frequently to Pennsylvania and California to visit her sons and their families.
Norma was well-loved and appreciated for her unshakable consideration and kindness to her friends and family. Her spirit and wit will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
She is survived by her brother, Retired Colonel Leonard Becicka of Kansas City, Missouri; her two sons; Dennis, of Soquel, Ca., and Michael, “Mickey” of Honesdale, Pa.; five grandchildren, Shannon of Soquel, Ca., Mary of Aptos, Ca., Christopher Still of Boulder Creek, Ca., Brendan of Honesdale, Pa., Rylan of Los Angeles, Ca.; and four great grandchildren, Terrance James “TJ”, and Sadie of Soquel, Ca., Taylor and Ella Grace of Boulder Creek, Ca.
Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers; Lewis, William, and Leslie; and five sisters, Edith, Libby, Mary, Agnes, and Martha.
The family wants to warmly acknowledge the loving care and attention she received from her beloved nephews and their wives, Gary and Kathleen Becicka of Hibbing, and Alan and Mert Becicka of Hoyt Lakes, Mn. The family also would like to warmly acknowledge the loving care and attention she received from the staff at Greenview Residence and the 7th Avenue Apartments in her final years.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, in the St. James Episcopal Church, Hibbing. The Rev. Sally Maxwell will officiate. Visitation will be in the church from 10 am. until service time. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home.
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