A wonderful lady and native Maderan has departed this earth to her Heavenly home. Norma Jean Gardini Hickman was born on February 24, 1931 to parents Albert and Vera Gardini. Norma passed peacefully in her sleep on December 29, 2023, after battling cancer.
She attended St. Joachim's Elementary School. During World War II, her family moved to Richmond where she attended Richmond High School before returning to Madera where she completed her senior year at Madera High School. She graduated with the Class of 1948.
Norma married Elton "Red" Brooks and had three children; twins Don and Doug, followed two years later by Kathleen. Norma endured the loss of 3-year old Doug to polio in 1953.
While single once again, she met James Victor Hickman of Madera. They married in December of 1973 and celebrated their 50 year anniversary this past December 7th.
Norma loved keeping busy and worked at various times as a waitress at Lucca's Restaurant, as an assistant in the St. Joachim's Church Rectory, at the Veteran's Office Madera, the California State Adult Parole Office and the Department of Rehabilitation. She spent the majority of her work-life with the California Highway Patrol as a secretary, then dispatcher in Madera, Fresno and Merced.
Never one to sit quietly, Norma volunteered for many years with St. Vincent DePaul, St. Joachim's Holy Family Table as well as the St. Joachim's Church bookstore. She retired from the bookstore at the spry young age of 92.
Norma had a great love for genealogy and the history of Madera. She belonged to both the Madera County Genealogical Society and the Historical Society. She wrote a book detailing the many contributions by Italian families to the culture in Madera.
Norma is survived by her husband Jim, her son Don Brooks and his wife Debby Brooks, her daughter Kathy Watts and her husband Randy Watts, her stepson Brian Hickman and his wife Cari Hickman, her stepdaughter Jennifer Hickman, her sister Dolores Gardini, her grandson Jacob Hickman, her granddaughter Savannah Hickman and several adored nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents Albert and Vera Gardini, her brother Richard and his wife, Jeri, and her beloved grandson David Brooks.
She attended St. Joachim's Elementary School. During World War II, her family moved to Richmond where she attended Richmond High School before returning to Madera where she completed her senior year at Madera High School. She graduated with the Class of 1948.
Norma married Elton "Red" Brooks and had three children; twins Don and Doug, followed two years later by Kathleen. Norma endured the loss of 3-year old Doug to polio in 1953.
While single once again, she met James Victor Hickman of Madera. They married in December of 1973 and celebrated their 50 year anniversary this past December 7th.
Norma loved keeping busy and worked at various times as a waitress at Lucca's Restaurant, as an assistant in the St. Joachim's Church Rectory, at the Veteran's Office Madera, the California State Adult Parole Office and the Department of Rehabilitation. She spent the majority of her work-life with the California Highway Patrol as a secretary, then dispatcher in Madera, Fresno and Merced.
Never one to sit quietly, Norma volunteered for many years with St. Vincent DePaul, St. Joachim's Holy Family Table as well as the St. Joachim's Church bookstore. She retired from the bookstore at the spry young age of 92.
Norma had a great love for genealogy and the history of Madera. She belonged to both the Madera County Genealogical Society and the Historical Society. She wrote a book detailing the many contributions by Italian families to the culture in Madera.
Norma is survived by her husband Jim, her son Don Brooks and his wife Debby Brooks, her daughter Kathy Watts and her husband Randy Watts, her stepson Brian Hickman and his wife Cari Hickman, her stepdaughter Jennifer Hickman, her sister Dolores Gardini, her grandson Jacob Hickman, her granddaughter Savannah Hickman and several adored nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents Albert and Vera Gardini, her brother Richard and his wife, Jeri, and her beloved grandson David Brooks.
A wonderful lady and native Maderan has departed this earth to her Heavenly home. Norma Jean Gardini Hickman was born on February 24, 1931 to parents Albert and Vera Gardini. Norma passed peacefully in her sleep on December 29, 2023, after battling cancer.
She attended St. Joachim's Elementary School. During World War II, her family moved to Richmond where she attended Richmond High School before returning to Madera where she completed her senior year at Madera High School. She graduated with the Class of 1948.
Norma married Elton "Red" Brooks and had three children; twins Don and Doug, followed two years later by Kathleen. Norma endured the loss of 3-year old Doug to polio in 1953.
While single once again, she met James Victor Hickman of Madera. They married in December of 1973 and celebrated their 50 year anniversary this past December 7th.
Norma loved keeping busy and worked at various times as a waitress at Lucca's Restaurant, as an assistant in the St. Joachim's Church Rectory, at the Veteran's Office Madera, the California State Adult Parole Office and the Department of Rehabilitation. She spent the majority of her work-life with the California Highway Patrol as a secretary, then dispatcher in Madera, Fresno and Merced.
Never one to sit quietly, Norma volunteered for many years with St. Vincent DePaul, St. Joachim's Holy Family Table as well as the St. Joachim's Church bookstore. She retired from the bookstore at the spry young age of 92.
Norma had a great love for genealogy and the history of Madera. She belonged to both the Madera County Genealogical Society and the Historical Society. She wrote a book detailing the many contributions by Italian families to the culture in Madera.
Norma is survived by her husband Jim, her son Don Brooks and his wife Debby Brooks, her daughter Kathy Watts and her husband Randy Watts, her stepson Brian Hickman and his wife Cari Hickman, her stepdaughter Jennifer Hickman, her sister Dolores Gardini, her grandson Jacob Hickman, her granddaughter Savannah Hickman and several adored nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents Albert and Vera Gardini, her brother Richard and his wife, Jeri, and her beloved grandson David Brooks.
She attended St. Joachim's Elementary School. During World War II, her family moved to Richmond where she attended Richmond High School before returning to Madera where she completed her senior year at Madera High School. She graduated with the Class of 1948.
Norma married Elton "Red" Brooks and had three children; twins Don and Doug, followed two years later by Kathleen. Norma endured the loss of 3-year old Doug to polio in 1953.
While single once again, she met James Victor Hickman of Madera. They married in December of 1973 and celebrated their 50 year anniversary this past December 7th.
Norma loved keeping busy and worked at various times as a waitress at Lucca's Restaurant, as an assistant in the St. Joachim's Church Rectory, at the Veteran's Office Madera, the California State Adult Parole Office and the Department of Rehabilitation. She spent the majority of her work-life with the California Highway Patrol as a secretary, then dispatcher in Madera, Fresno and Merced.
Never one to sit quietly, Norma volunteered for many years with St. Vincent DePaul, St. Joachim's Holy Family Table as well as the St. Joachim's Church bookstore. She retired from the bookstore at the spry young age of 92.
Norma had a great love for genealogy and the history of Madera. She belonged to both the Madera County Genealogical Society and the Historical Society. She wrote a book detailing the many contributions by Italian families to the culture in Madera.
Norma is survived by her husband Jim, her son Don Brooks and his wife Debby Brooks, her daughter Kathy Watts and her husband Randy Watts, her stepson Brian Hickman and his wife Cari Hickman, her stepdaughter Jennifer Hickman, her sister Dolores Gardini, her grandson Jacob Hickman, her granddaughter Savannah Hickman and several adored nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents Albert and Vera Gardini, her brother Richard and his wife, Jeri, and her beloved grandson David Brooks.
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