Norma L. Hensley

Norma Lose Hensley, age 89, of Austin, Texas passed away on Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Norma Lose Hensley was born in New Britain, Connecticut. She was educated at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut, and at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She was included in the 1948-1949 Edition of Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. Norma came to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, Texas, after having spent a year as a librarian at the Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis. At TSD she started teaching second and third grades, but she ended up teaching in high school. She retired in 1983 after serving 31 years. In 1960 Norma, chairperson and member of Les Sourdes Study Club (deaf women) sponsored a campaign to raise funds for a 27 inch statue of Gallaudet and Alice. The statue was cast in Italy from the plaster model secured from the American School for the Deaf. It was unveiled in the lobby of the Texas School for the Deaf Auditorium in 1965. Norma was president of the club for three terms. Norma has been involved in many organizations such as Texas Association of the Deaf and Symposium ’86 and ’88. She has been serving in the deaf community for about 45 years. In 1964 Norma organized the Austin Chapter of PKZ - PSI Omega with about 10 ladies. She was the first president of PSI Omega. Her husband Jack died in 1989 and then remarried Lester Naftaly of California. Her second home – Walnut Creek and still came home to Texas yearly until Lester died in July 2000. Patti Fry took care of her for 7 years until she passed away. She was the best partner for traveling; she would travel to Baja yearly for 5 years. Norma was known for her organization skills and perfections. She always looked very clean in appearance and organized her hairdo along with her dress, shoes and purse. She always walked with dignity and was very much a lady. She was very sweet, considerate, caring, loving and beautiful. She is survived by her brother, Russell; one niece, Cindy; one nephew, Larry. Special thanks to Pete Wright, who was her gardener for 33 years, and Bob Ferris whom she loves, and kept her feeling so young. The 3 of us always have lots of fun together. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Monday, June 11, 2007 at Wilke-Clay-Fish Chapel with interment to follow at Forest Oaks Cemetery.