Claudia Kerens
on 08/21/2023 at 6:16 pm
Please accept my condolences and sympathies upon the loss of your wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Peace and love.
ReplyNorma Louise Sommer
SOMMER
Norma Louise Sommer, 86, of Sparta, IL; born July 23, 1937 in Charleston, MO, the daughter of James and Helen (Toombs) Manker; passed away Saturday, August 19, 2023 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, IL.
Norma was a graduate of St. Henry’s Catholic School in Charleston, MO in 1955 and Holy Cross School of Nursing in South Bend, IN. A lifelong nurse, Norma was very proud of her time as a staff and surgical nurse for over 40 years. She spent 5 years at Our Savior Catholic Hospital in Jacksonville, IL, 2 years at St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, IL, 24 years at Sparta Community Hospital as a supervisory surgical nurse and supervisor of Central Supply, and 10 years at Chester Memorial Hospital as a surgical nurse. Norma enjoyed swimming, spoiling her grandchildren, gardening, and participating in community support as a member of the Garden Club and Delta Theta Tau.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years – Jan L. Sommer of Sparta, IL to whom she married April 11, 1959 at St. Henry Catholic Church in Charleston, MO; two sons – Brian Sommer of Sparta, IL and Mark Sommer of Sparta, IL; two grandchildren – Andrew (Ashley Wagner) Sommer of Sparta, IL and Patrick Sommer of Sparta, IL; two great grandchildren – Eloise and Iris Sommer of Sparta, IL; two sisters – Melba (James) Stricker of Lakeland, FL and Judy (Gordon) Holzem of Paris, TN; two brothers – David (Alpha) Manker of Charleston, MO and Donald (Diane) Manker of Atoka, TN; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; brothers – James Manker, Paul Manker, Kenneth Manker, and Raymond Manker; daughter-in-law – Janet Sommer; granddaughter – Laci Sommer.
Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Heil-Schuessler & Sinn Funeral Home in Sparta from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Graveside Services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Charleston, MO on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with Father David Dohogne officiating.
Heil-Schuessler & Sinn Funeral Home in Sparta, Illinois is in charge of arrangements.
10 Comments
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Danelle Dill Corey on 08/23/2023 at 7:01 am
Sorry to hear the passing of Norma. She was an amazing lady. Her and I have shared Christmas cards throughout the years. She will be missed dearly.
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Praying for peace during this difficult time for the family.
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Tenley Smith on 08/22/2023 at 7:56 pm
My heart is broken to learn of the passing of Norma. She was one of my parents’ best friends, and I loved her, too. She was the nurse in the OR during a few of my surgeries. She was a wonderful person… Kind, loving, supportive and very funny. My prayers go out to Jan, Brian, Mark and the rest of her family & friends.
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John and Linda Hull on 08/23/2023 at 4:13 pm
John and are so sorry to hear about Norma’s passing. We have so many wonderful memories living across the street from Norma and Jan. We looked forward to her Christmas cards with notes about the family every year. Jan, the boys and their families are in our thoughts and prayers. Norma will be missed by many people.
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Bill and Darlyn Nehrt on 08/24/2023 at 2:23 pm
Sympathy to the family of Norma Sommer.
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Michael Martin on 08/23/2023 at 5:41 pm
Brian and family. Always sad news, but what a long life and legacy she shared with you.
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Lela Neisler on 08/23/2023 at 10:24 pm
My sympathy to the family. I know Norma had lots of stories to tell being on the team with Joanna and Manford and that guy with the great sense of humor, Doc Pflasterer. (Yes, and all the other wonderful staff she worked with over the years.)
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Mike Jacobus on 08/24/2023 at 8:20 pm
I loved Norma!! Such a cool lady.I have so many childhood memories of her as our neighborhood nurse… between her and Marlene Maybel.” Doesn’t look like it needs stitches” or “I don’t think it’s broke”.I will miss her terribly but hang on to her good memory… And the neighborhood dog “Cindy” black lab. Love you Norma.
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Penny Reeves on 08/24/2023 at 11:47 pm
Norma worked with my dear mother, Brenda Edwards at Sparta Hospital for decades and was a very good friend to her and our family. I think all of us girls called the OR well into adulthood almost daily and because they were often scrubbed into a case, Norma had the talk of relaying messages to my mother like when I called crying at the age of 16 to tell mom ,”The rabbit died!”…you see it was my pet lop eared rabbit and I was unfamiliar with a generation who knew that term to mean someone was pregnant!…of course, she just cool and calm said ok and tried to calm me and repeated back to me…,”So you want me to tell your mom the rabbit died???”…”Yes, and I am too upset to go out on my date tonight so tell her to come straight home please !”…I was and am very dramatic and Norma always had a way of handling every crisis like a mom. She was good to me when my mom passed and as expected; I didn’t cope well. She has been like a mother since and before and I thank you for sharing her. I know my mom welcomed her and I will miss her very much. The community has lost one amazing lady. God bless you all.
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Dennis Carr on 08/25/2023 at 1:34 pm
My sincere regrets to Jan, Brian and Mark and family and numerous friends. Norma was a favorite to everyone at Sparta and Chester. She was a role model not only for nurses, but for all of us who worked in the operating theater. Her first priority was always patient care, and it came through in her work.
Norm and I have known each other since I came to Chester about 40 years ago give or take. As a matter of fact, I’ve known her for so long. I remember when she quit smoking. It seems ironic that she never got the disease that meant she could start smoking again. Well, Norma, I can finally say, pick up your Chesterfields and if you got them, light em.
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My sincere regrets to Jan, Brian and Mark and family and numerous friends. Norma was a favorite to everyone at Sparta and Chester. She was a role model not only for nurses, but for all of us who worked in the operating theater. Her first priority was always patient care, and it came through in her work.
Norm and I have known each other since I came to Chester about 40 years ago give or take. As a matter of fact, I’ve known her for so long. I remember when she quit smoking. It seems ironic that she never got the disease that meant she could start smoking again. Well, Norma, I can finally say, pick up your Chesterfields and if you got them, light em.
Norma worked with my dear mother, Brenda Edwards at Sparta Hospital for decades and was a very good friend to her and our family. I think all of us girls called the OR well into adulthood almost daily and because they were often scrubbed into a case, Norma had the talk of relaying messages to my mother like when I called crying at the age of 16 to tell mom ,”The rabbit died!”…you see it was my pet lop eared rabbit and I was unfamiliar with a generation who knew that term to mean someone was pregnant!…of course, she just cool and calm said ok and tried to calm me and repeated back to me…,”So you want me to tell your mom the rabbit died???”…”Yes, and I am too upset to go out on my date tonight so tell her to come straight home please !”…I was and am very dramatic and Norma always had a way of handling every crisis like a mom. She was good to me when my mom passed and as expected; I didn’t cope well. She has been like a mother since and before and I thank you for sharing her. I know my mom welcomed her and I will miss her very much. The community has lost one amazing lady. God bless you all.
I loved Norma!! Such a cool lady.I have so many childhood memories of her as our neighborhood nurse… between her and Marlene Maybel.” Doesn’t look like it needs stitches” or “I don’t think it’s broke”.I will miss her terribly but hang on to her good memory… And the neighborhood dog “Cindy” black lab. Love you Norma.
My sympathy to the family. I know Norma had lots of stories to tell being on the team with Joanna and Manford and that guy with the great sense of humor, Doc Pflasterer. (Yes, and all the other wonderful staff she worked with over the years.)
Brian and family. Always sad news, but what a long life and legacy she shared with you.
John and are so sorry to hear about Norma’s passing. We have so many wonderful memories living across the street from Norma and Jan. We looked forward to her Christmas cards with notes about the family every year. Jan, the boys and their families are in our thoughts and prayers. Norma will be missed by many people.
Sympathy to the family of Norma Sommer.
My heart is broken to learn of the passing of Norma. She was one of my parents’ best friends, and I loved her, too. She was the nurse in the OR during a few of my surgeries. She was a wonderful person… Kind, loving, supportive and very funny. My prayers go out to Jan, Brian, Mark and the rest of her family & friends.
Please accept my condolences and sympathies upon the loss of your wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Peace and love.
Sorry to hear the passing of Norma. She was an amazing lady. Her and I have shared Christmas cards throughout the years. She will be missed dearly.
Praying for peace during this difficult time for the family.