Norma Culhane was born on June 30, 1924, in Woodbridge, N.J., to Joseph and Jessie Paulin. She passed into glory on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, in a local hospital. Norma attended college at Rutgers University and worked as the executive secretary to the president of Johnson & Johnson while in New Jersey. She met Francis G. Culhane shortly before he left for an overseas assignment during World War II. While Francis was away, Norma made her own contributions to her country by serving in the Civil Air Patrol, spotting several German subs lurking off the East Coast. When Francis returned from the war, they were married on June 14, 1947. From then until Francis' death on Jan. 15, 1996, they were partners - both personally and professionally. The Culhanes moved to Texas when Francis enrolled in the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. After law school, they settled in San Angelo where Francis set up his law practice with Norma working as his paralegal. The home they designed and had built on Douglas Drive was the first house in the Bryant addition of San Angelo. Francis and Norma were among the first parishioners of the newly formed Holy Angels Catholic Church in 1960. Norma remained an active member of this church for as long as her health permitted. She was a member of the Altar Society, the Women's Organization, the Environment Committee and the Catholic Daughters of America. She served as a lay eucharistic minister, a lector and as advocate for the marriage tribunal of the Diocese of San Angelo. Norma was especially supportive of the clergy, of whom several became her lasting good friends. Norma enjoyed beauty in art, in music and in nature. She was a docent at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and attended classes at Angelo State University in art, pottery fabrication, sculpture and the humanities. Her artistic and spiritual sensibility permeated every place Norma resided. Her home was decorated with many fine pieces of art. Music from her record collection filled her home. Her lovely yard was a peaceful space that she maintained for as long as she was able. Francis and Norma loved to travel, visiting many foreign places where she acquired her beautiful collection of locally made nativity figures. Norma enjoyed telling friends about the places where she bought the nativities and other pieces of art she found on their travels. Norma's love for travel was equaled by her desire to show off San Angelo to her friends from afar. Norma loved to read on a wide variety of topics. She became adept in a number of theological concerns, local political events and social justice issues. Along with Teilhard de Chardin, Norma agreed that we are spiritual beings with a human nature rather than human beings with a spiritual nature. Her insightful comments on the books read by her Readers P.S. Book Discussion Group were always appreciated. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband. Survivors include her sister, Doris Boehm; two brothers-in-law, Donald Culhane and the Rev. Alberic Culhane, OSB; her special friend, Michele Dickey-Webb; and many lifelong friends from all across the country. Thank you to Irma Ramoz and Inez Penilla, wonderful caregivers and friends to Norma during the past year. Thanks to the staff at Shannon Hospital for the care they provided during Norma's final illness. And a special thank you to Dr. Hughston for being Norma's physician and friend for many years. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Norma donated her body to the School of Medicine at Texas Tech University. Ultimately her remains will be interred in St. Mary's Cemetery in Brookings, S.D., beside her beloved Francis. Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.
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