Norma Lugo

To Norma Lugo, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Norma, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Norma really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Her parents were Zarife Abraham and Jorge Arturo Guzman. Norma was raised in Mexico City and at the age of 21 she came to the United States. Even as a child, Norma had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Norma was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Norma managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Norma was raised with three siblings. She had sisters, Yadira Huidobro and Lucero Guzman and a brother, Julian Guzman.

All of Norma's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Norma experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in riding bikes. In her spare time she liked sewing and crafting.

A cherished memory that she shared with all of her family was her love for the show "The Price Is Right". Everyday she watched it and new the games by heart, her dream was to be a contestant and hear, "Norma Lugo come on down"! being said by Bob Barker.

No matter what, she never forgot to play her numbers and buy the lottery every Wednesday and Saturday. She was known for her infamous yummy coffee that everyone liked along with the cookies she always set out. Norma was known for being a very happy social person that loved and enjoyed life and entertained at her house and while entertaining we all loved to hear her very vivid stories that always made us laugh and will never be forgotten.

Norma never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Norma to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Norma delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Norma was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Norma utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Patricia Velázquez. Later in life, she became friends with Olivia Berber, Sandra Ramos, Rosalena Alvarado, Esther Delgado, Lupita Merrado and Magda Davila. Norma loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Norma very easy to approach. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Norma related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Norma was blessed with five children, Jose, Yuvia, Roberto, Jeannette and Jasmine. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Christopher Ray and Abigail Rainae. Norma had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Norma's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Norma had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

Norma enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Norma liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were reading, knitting and going to the casino. Norma was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Norma felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Norma loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Norma relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Norma never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Norma was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were boxing, soccer and figure skating.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Norma recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church for 16 years.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Norma was regularly doing things for others. For her, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Norma was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included the "Best Mom" Award.

Living life in the fast lane suited Norma just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Mexico, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and Reno. When it came time to go on bike runs with Tomas to Palm Springs or Laughlin she'd put on her harley boots and her jean jacket and had a blast with her biker family.

Norma was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Norma's favorites was Nievest and Kiko, her Chihuahuas. Her family was rounded out by her finches.

A favorite for her was to lay side by side and cuddle up next to her Flaco to watch there novelas on TV and her grandchildren gave her much love and spent lovely time with her, of her past times was crafting with her "Abby-chuela".

She is survived by her husband; Tomas, daughters; Yuvia Yeovanna Montejo, Jeannette Lugo and Jasmine Lugo and her sons; Jose Arturo Montejo and Roberto Yesback Islas She is also survived by her two sisters; Yadira Huidobro and Lucero Guzman and her brother; Julian Guzman. She is also survived by her two grandchildren; Christopher Ray Espinosa and Abigail Rainae Miranda. Visitation was held on Monday, January 10, 2011 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and a Rosary recited at 6:00 pm all at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Chapel, 11500 Arlington Ave. Riverside, CA. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January11, 2011 at 10:00 am at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 4824 Jones Avenue, Riverside, CA.

Services entrusted to Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Mortuary, Riverside, CA. Norma was laid to rest in Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park, Riverside, CA.

Norma brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Norma Lugo lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile. Our mother, wife and friend was a natural born Flower Child that taught all of us the meaning of peace and love.