Norma J. Mathes' Obituary
Norma J. Mathes died peacefully of natural causes under hospice care on Monday, August 13th 2018.
She was preceded in death by her sons David E. Mathes and Stephen J. Mathes, M.D., and her husband, John E. Mathes Jr., D.D.S.
Norma was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she graduated from Central High School. She later studied at Cotty College in Nevada, Missouri. After marriage she moved to New Orleans where she was a lifelong resident. She was an active member of Carrollton Presbyterian Church , where she met her husband John.
She is survived by her sons Peter D. Mathes and Paul H. (Leslie) Mathes; grandsons David (Amanda) Mathes, Brian (Vasso) Mathes and Ned (Erin) Mathes; and granddaughter Isabel Wynne Mathes.
Norma greatly enjoyed music and playing the piano, and used it in her love of teaching pre-school children for many years at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church. She also played piano at her church and at different senior centers in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Norma was also an active member of the Gideons International women’s auxiliary.
She was fascinated by nature and throughout her life enjoyed swimming, tennis, hiking outdoors and studying wildlife. She loved dogs and bred them as a hobby. She enjoyed organizing children’s day camps, loved designing craft projects and created and used puppets to engage, teach, and entertain children in pre-school programs.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church , 1545 State Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on Monday, November 12th , 2018 at 2:00 PM. A visitation will be held at the church beginning at 12:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, D.C. 20090-7251.
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