Elizabeth, “Lif” Carol Nordwick passed peacefully on Epiphany, January 6, 2020 after a brief bout with cancer. Surrounded by her loving family, she went to heaven to join her beloved husband, Harry Nordwick for eternity.
Born to Arden and Esther Lynne on November 20, 1935 in Clarkfield, Minnesota, Lif grew up attending local elementary and high schools. At an early age she developed a passion for music by playing drums in the band and singing in the church choir. After high school, she moved to St Paul to attend Medical Assistant school and met her first husband Wilfred, “Bill” K. Houle. Upon graduation, in 1956, they were married and migrated west to Monterey. They started a family and were blessed with four children; Jennifer, Lisa, Christopher and Mark. Lif worked as a medical assistant for William Forestelle, MD for several years before leaving the practice to be home with her children. In 1975, she and Bill divorced and Lif returned to the medical field and was employed by Howard Press, MD for the next several years.
In 1978, Lif met and married the love of her life, Harry A. Nordwick, Managing Editor for the Salinas Californian. Harry came with three children; Brian, Karen and Larry and they formed a blended family. They resided in Salinas for several years enjoying time with family, golfing, traveling, music and theater, community service and church activities at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran. Upon retirement, Harry and Lif relocated to Madera, California in the San Joaquin Valley where they spent the next 30 years. They became members of Trinity Lutheran in Madera where Lif served on the altar guild and sang in the church choir. They enjoyed
35 years of marriage until Harry’s passing in 2013. As a widow, Lif remained in Madera for the next five years engaged in relationships with family, friends and church. Last Spring, Lif made her final move back to the Peninsula to reside at Sunrise Monterey Terrace Club and was blessed to be surrounded by family and amazing caregivers.
Lif was a devout Christian, wife and mother who enjoyed a multitude of hobbies and activities including: gardening, church choir, playing bridge, golfing, fishing, playing penny slots at Table Mountain, and attending concerts and plays. Above all, Lif enjoyed time with her family up until her last breath. She is survived by her son Brian Nordwick and wife Sheila, daughter Karen Holaday and husband Mark, daughters Jennifer Schmit and Lisa Houle, son Larry Nordwick and partner John Daniel, son Chris Houle and wife Julie and son Mark Houle and partner Tina, 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Our family is eternally grateful to Sunrise Monterey Terrace Club Staff and Heartland Hospice of Monterey for the love and above-and-beyond care our Mom received during her time with them.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 18 at 11:00 am at Church of the Good Shepherd, 301 Corral de Tierra Rd, Salinas, CA. 93908. Lunch will be served following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Heartland Hospice at 2511 Garden Rd., Suite A-250, Monterey, CA. 93940 OR heartlandhospicefund.org. Donation envelopes will be available at the service.
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