Norma J. Gau, 92 of Huntley, Ill. died peacefully, October 17, 2017 with her family by her side.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 9, 2017, 4-8pm at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home-10763 Dundee Road, Huntley with a Funeral Mass Friday, November 10, at 10:00am at St. Mary Catholic Church 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. She will be interred at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, Ill. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix, Arizona: https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give/donate or
Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 317, Maryknoll, NY 10545
https://www.maryknollsisters.org/support-us/donate-now/
Norma was born March 3, 1925 in rural Canada, the daughter of Albert and Catherine Vinet. As a young adult, she entered the convent as a Sister of the order of Our Lady of the Missions and was a nun for ten years. Before making her final vows, she left the order and entered the University of Saskatchewan to study to be a teacher. There she met and later married Fred Gau. The couple was married on August 16, 1958 in Brussels, Belgium during the time Norma was serving as lead Canadian guide at the World’s Fair. Their wedding was televised around the globe. Norma and her husband then moved to the United States and have lived in Illinois ever since. For many years Norma was a school teacher serving grades 1 through 12. Later in life she was a realtor and an apartment manager. She enjoyed golf, tennis, singing, cooking and volunteering to help the poor. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and was the unshakable rock for the family’s strong faith life. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Fred, her daughters, Cathy (Phil) Gorski, Renee (Bryan) Tam and by her 5 grandchildren, Sean (Nicole) Gau, Ellen (John Green) Gorski, Leander (Kristi) Gorski, Alex Tam and Lyann Tam, and by her great grandson, Danny. She is also survived by her brother, Maurice Vinet, and her sisters, Yvonne (Rudy) Saretsky, and Grace (Jack) Willis and by many nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her daughter, Michele, son, Mark and great grandson Joseph and by her brother, Malcom and sister, Ellen.
For further information please call the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or on-line condolences may be directed to www.defiorejorgensen.com
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Deepest condolences for your loss. Norma was an elegant, kind, welcoming, fun, interesting, beautiful & fun lady ! She blessed our lives with her warmth and friendliness. She willl be missed. We look forward to meeting her again in heaven one day. God bless Norma & God bless you all.
So sorry to hear of your loss of your long time companion and wife and for your children in the loss of their mother. My mother got to know Norma better than I, and she frequently was praising her many great qualities .