Norma Lorene Symns

At the age of 76, after almost two decades of battling Parkinson’s Disease, Norma Lorene Symns ended her journey on earth and went to heaven Monday, October 21, 2024. Norma was in Applewood Memory Care in Arvada surrounded by her husband and two children at the time of her passing.

Norma was born in Goshen, Indiana February 29, 1948 and was raised in the communities of West Liberty, Ohio, Freeport, Illinois and then moved to Arthur, Illinois for her senior year of high school. Growing up in a Mennonite farming community, where her father was a pastor, Norma gained a strong work ethic, faith, dedication to loved ones, and the talent to cook delicious meals from scratch.

After graduating from high school she moved to Hesston, KS where she earned an associates degree at Hesston College and subsequently worked for Hesston Corporation as an executive secretary. It was there that she met her future husband, Thomas Symns, and they were married October 24, 1970. After spending the first years of their marriage in the Hesston area, they lived for a few years in Laramie, Wyoming and eventually settled in Longmont, Colorado where they raised their two children, Kristin and Mark on a small hay farm.

During the kids' school years, Norma had various jobs from home which included secretarial work and industrial sewing, However, first and foremost, Norma was a dedicated and talented home-maker. Her skill for hospitality and making the 'farm' a 'home' was apparent to anyone who visited the Symns family farm. Countless gatherings, from large 4th of July parties and church youth group events, to small, intimate meals with just a few people, were not only made possible, but made special, by Norma's hard work, thoughtfulness and welcoming presence. She also did her fair share to upkeep the family farm and help with the summer hay harvest. After Kristin and Mark left home, Norma became an office manager for Highland Management contracting services, a job she truly enjoyed, excelled at and took pride in.

Norma's favorite pastime was quilting. She was always on the lookout for quilt stores, new patterns and the perfect fabric. She put many hours of thought and work into each quilt, carefully considering the colors and patterns of everything she made. The finished piece was always given away as a gift; for Christmas, a birthday, baby showers, or simply because she sensed someone needed an extra dose of warmth and care in their life. Her biggest quilting project was making eighteen quilts for His Little Feet children’s choir.

Another of Norma's great gifts to those around her was her cooking. Anyone who knew Norma knew she had a sweet tooth, and her specialities reflected that- cinnamon rolls, carmel 'corn', fudge, and cherry pies made from scratch with cherries picked from the farm to name just a few. To dine at her table during Thanksgiving, or any other food-centric holiday, was something guests would talk about years later. She was also quick to volunteer her dishes for church events, meal trains, or gathering with friends. Food was without a doubt Norma's love language, and her love was something special.

Norma was gifted with many enviable traits, but perhaps her most memorable were kindness, humor, and determination. Virtually everyone who met her experienced her warm smile, knack for making people feel welcome, and gentle spirit. Although Norma didn't tell a lot of jokes, her one-liners were always spot on, extremely perceptive, and delivered a quick, light punch to the gut of laughter. Perhaps most remarkable of all, her determination was second to none. Whether it was turning a neglected, 100 year old farmhouse into a home worthy of Better Homes and Gardens, pedaling a bicycle up Vail pass, or living day-in, day-out with Parkinson's for decades, Norma's grit was unparalleled.

Norma is preceded in death by her parents, Paul & Martha (Meck) Sieber and her sister-in-law, Peggy (Hedrick) Sieber. She is survived by her husband, Tom Symns, daughter Kristin (Kevin) Vannorsdel and son Mark (Holly) Symns, two grandchildren, Paul James Symns & Magdalen Norma Symns, three brothers, Gerald (Yvonne) Sieber, Delmar (Sandy) Sieber & Marlin Sieber and her sister Nancy (Dennis) Seaman.

A celebration of life service will be held Friday, November 15 at 2:00pm at Calvary Church, 2101 Gay Street in Longmont. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Davis Phinney Foundation.