Norma Jeanne Curley

Norma was born to the Honorable Norman Elkington and Georgia Gilcrest Elkington on June 4, 1927, in San Francisco, California. Known as “Jeanne” to her family, she was the older sister to John (Jack) Elkington and Helen Diestel. After graduating from Lowell High School, Norma attended the University of California Berkeley. She was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She married Jack Curley in her senior year. They lived briefly in northern California, Kansas, and Minnesota. They settled in southern California and had four children.

Norma owned many titles in her life. She was a volunteer and then Office Manager for ATSC before retiring at age 65. Norma was a devout Catholic, dedicated bridge player, water aerobics enthusiast, frugal shopper, avid traveler, lucky bingo player, and speaker of humorous words and phrases including “chippy picker” and “junkatorium.”

The titles Norma treasured most were as a dedicated “Mom” and “Gram.” She was a loving and kind-hearted Mom and encouraged her kids’ interests and talents. As Gram, she thoroughly enjoyed visiting her grandchildren throughout her retirement years.

Norma was known as a kind, generous, proper lady. Resiliency was one of her greatest strengths, as evidenced most recently when she relocated to Colorado in 2023.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Georgia Elkington, her son John Richard Curley, and her brother Jack Elkington.

Norma is survived by her children: Jean Curley; Jim Curley and his wife Roxanne; Janis Smith and her husband Larry, and daughter-in-law Denise Curley. In addition, she leaves behind four grandchildren: Scott Curley, Georgia Whelan (Ryan), Morgan Curley, and Nathan Curley; and three Whelan great-grandchildren: Penny, Patrick and Lilly. She is also survived by her sister Helen, several nieces and nephews, and dear friends. She will be missed by many.

A heartfelt thank you to two of Norma’s caregivers, Kaila and Linda, and mom’s Hospice Nurse, Claire.

In lieu of flowers, Norma requested that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

A private service will be held in San Francisco at a later date.