Norma Jean Foley

Norma Jean Foley died on her favorite holiday, St.

Patrick’s day. Born in Detroit, Michigan some eighty five

years ago, the journey of her life was filled with amazing

adventures and tender moments. From high school and

college football games to her thousand hour pin from caring

for our sick veterans with the American Legion auxiliary,

she lived her life with a sensitivity that was uncommon.

She was always the first to volunteer when she thought she

could help and the people who knew her well were truly

blessed as her amazing stories often revealed a wisdom

deeper than her words.

Her migration from Detroit to California was inspired

by one thing; the love of her life John Foley. They met when

she was sixteen while he was an usher at a movie theater in

Highland Park. Norma Jean’s father had come to California

to work in Howard Hughes’ aircraft factory. Shortly after,

her father returned to Detroit to become an assistant to

Henry Ford. But John and Norma stayed in touch through

letters. When John received a football scholarship to St.

Mary’s his team often traveled to the east coast for games.

Norma Jean met him at the games and their relationship

deepened. Then World War Two broke out and John joined

the Marines. Norma Jean traveled to California to say her

goodbyes to John. They were married on this trip and

Norma Jean was destined to make her home in California

with John’s extended Irish family. For over fifty years they

had something of a wonderful life.

Norma Jean was an artist at heart. Her sense of style

and fashion shows reflected this. But her real work was

her family and she brought a creativity to this as well. We

were her canvas and her paint brush was unconditional

love while her palette was her Catholic faith. We all adored

her and she made each of us feel as if we had a special

relationship with her. A trip to Grandma’s beach house for a

weekend was always a valued treat. There, sunsets would

come alive as if you were truly seeing one for the first time

and a walk along the shoreline searching for beach glass

became a treasure hunt of epic proportions for she always

made the ordinary moments feel special and magical.

For some reason, even Creme Soda even tasted better at

Grandma’s house. She was also our most trusted advisor.

She could be critical when we were wrong but she was

never judgmental.

Norma Jean died peacefully after a brave fight. Her

room looked out over the Pacic Ocean that she loved and

the sunset on St. Patrick’s day was worthy of her passing.

Like Norma Jean, it was magnicent. She loved life, her

family, God, country and the Lakers.

She is survived by her three sons, Michael, Danny and

Steve, their three wives, her eight grandchildren and their

wives, Shane, Farrell, Jamie, Shannon, Joe, Hope, Emily,

Justin, Storm and Rowan and her beloved brother Don

Staples and his family.

Norma Jean we thank you for inspiring us to make from

the timber of our lives, not a tavern, but a temple and to

make the words of our lives not a reproach but a song. The

world will miss you forever.

Services will be held on April 17th at Our Lady of Mount

Carmel church in Newport Beach at 10am.