Norma Johnson Pavlu

Norma Virginia Ruth Johnson Pavlu was born on January 26, 1942, at Brackenridge Hospital, in Austin, Texas. She was very proud to be a native Austinite, and lived there her entire life, except for the relatively brief time she attended college in Georgetown, Texas.

Norma is preceded in death by her parents, Walter William Johnson, Sr., and Ellen Corrine Caffey Johnson. As well, she is preceded in death by her Brother, Walter William Johnson, Jr. and his wife Imogene Johnson, her brother Harry Dalton Johnson and his wife Joyce Johnson, her sister Doris Marie Whitman and her husband Ralph Whitman, Jr., and her brother-in-law, Dan Carper, as well as her nephews Jeffrey Joel Johnson, Donald James Whitman, Ray Whitman and niece Debbie Mann.

Norma is survived by her husband, Michael G. Pavlu, who was supportive and close to her especially in the last month of her life. Norma is survived by her children, Kaeri Beth Lanae Pavlu (father, Michael Pavlu), Traey Amescua and Natalie Vania Ranae Wickey (father, Andy Amescua, Jr.) and Natalie's husband, Lee Ray Wickey, and by her two beautiful grandchildren, James Walter Dalton Finnian Johnson and Lily Beth Delephimne. Norma's love for her children and grandchildren knew NO bounds and she counted each of them as incredible Gifts and held them as the closest ones to her heart, after God alone. Her remaining living sibling is her sister, Roma Faye Carper. Her surviving nieces and nephews are Patricia Johnson, Darlene Johnson, Jerry Johnson with wife Lynn, Joan Baker with husband Bruce, Jennifer Fernandes, Bill Whitman, Ralph Whitman, III, with wife Janet, and Sue Baillio with husband, Brett. In addition, she is survived by many great nieces, great nephews, cousins and other cherished family. She had not seen or visited with many of her family members in some time, but thought of them, loved them and had them in her prayers often.

Norma attended elementary, Junior High and High school in Austin. She was a very proud graduate of Austin High School and attended college in Georgetown, Texas, at Southwestern University. After leaving college, she worked in the Registrar's Office at The University of Texas in Austin. Eventually, she would spend a good portion of her life working at the Internal Revenue Service, for 22 years, before retiring before the birth of her third child, Kaeri.

Norma grew up in the United Methodist Church, attending Ward Memorial United Methodist Church at the corner of Willow and Waller streets, and, after its relocation, on Parker Lane. She attended, and was a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church on Speedway, for a relatively brief time, before returning to Ward Memorial. She served as a children's Sunday School teacher at Ward Memorial/Parker Lane and also was a proud member of the United Methodist Women there. Her dedication to serving God was always in the forefront of her heart and mind, and she called on His Help and Grace throughout her life, for herself and, especially, for others. Even intimes of trial and distress, she turned readily and swiftly to Jesus and His Saving Love. She raised her children, all three, to know Him and love Him, and for that, they are Blessed indeed.

Norma was a passionate soul who invested all she had and all she was, into caring for and loving those she held dearest, her family. If she found out that a loved one, from her children to her extended family, had a need, she would immediately attempt to find ways to help. If for some reason she could not find a way to help, she was still mightily praying for them and calling on others to join with her in those prayers (one of her favorite verses was “Where two or three are gathered, there am I” Matthew 18:20). She also never seemed to know a stranger and reached out to help others whenever she found she could.

Norma was a VERY creative and talented soul, expressing herself through drawing, painting, writing, crocheting, silk flower arranging, and more, and enjoyed coming up with new and creative ways to rearrange her home and its furnishings whenever she found it possible. In fact, she created silk floral arrangements for several Weddings, including those for a beloved niece and, in 2016, ALL of the arrangements, including the gorgeous Bridal Bouquet, for the Wedding of her oldest daughter, Natalie and Natalie's husband to be, Lee. She also loved creating beautiful silk bows at Christmas time, as decorations around home, to adorn gifts, and to beautify the family Christmas tree. Norma LOVED books and reading, a love she's shared with her children from a very early age, and there is quite a collection of favorites on shelves and in safe keeping. She especially cherished her collection of Bibles. Norma was an excellent storyteller and keeper of memories that she could recount without a hitch, even up to a month or so before her passing. Her tellings of her childhood, family, young adulthood, and more will live on in the hearts of those she shared them with.

Norma, our precious Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Aunt, Cousin, and friend, will be missed immensely and held snuggly in our hearts. We are comforted greatly with the God Given knowledge that she is Home indeed, Healed, Freed from pain, Filled with Joy to be in God's Presence, and that in God's Time, we indeed will be together again.

A graveside service for Norma will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11 AM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery, 14501 N Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660.