Norma Gale Taylor's Obituary
Norma Gale Taylor, 84, was born on December 26, 1939, to the late Edwin and Doris Taylor.
Norma passed away on April 6, 2024. Cherished mother of Billie Cristino and Valerie Armstrong (Eric Cudmore). Loving grandmother of Angel (Richard) Csongedi, Vince Cristino, Jaret Armstrong, and Reese Armstrong. Beloved great-grandmother of Richie Csongedi and Gianna Csongedi.
Memorial Visitation is Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 4-8:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Chapel, 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070. Memorial Service is Friday, April 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Park’s Westwood Abbey Mausoleum, 6265 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Norma’s honor to Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/, or the Dementia Society of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/
A tribute from her daughters:
“Time waits for no one” and “life is fragile”. We hear these words again and again as years pass, but we are gifted another day, and so we often relax in the luxury of taking time for granted. As long as another tomorrow comes, we’re good. But then one day, another day doesn’t come.
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our mother, and grandmother. A “Legend”, as her beautiful granddaughter, Angel, calls her, Norma Gale Taylor.
This is so hard, because words will never do justice to all that was the life of this amazing woman. She was a trendsetter, light years beyond her times. She was born the eldest daughter of 13 kids to Edwin and Doris Taylor on 12/26/1939, in Summersville, WV. Grandpa Taylor gave her the middle name Gale after its definition (hurricane force winds), and mom definitely had her hurricane side, but mostly used it in righteous defense of the underdog. Being the eldest daughter, she was often a second parent to her many siblings. She lived a rebel life, driving the family car into town once in a while at age 14, only to be told by authorities to “Go home, Norma!”. By age 17, she was pregnant with Billie Ruth, and was kicked out of her senior class because it wasn’t appropriate for a pregnant girl to be in school. It might “send the wrong message” to the other girls. So she was married young, to William Acree, but then was divorced by age 21. Norma wanted more for her beautiful new daughter than what she had grown up knowing, so she picked her up and moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
Things weren’t easy for a single mother in those times (1961). Her first apartment was modest, and not in the best of neighborhoods (even for the times). She made her money waitressing for a number of years (one place was the Beef and Bottle on the Cleveland/Parma line) before she met Richard (Dick) LoVano who resembled Johnny Mathis. She was smitten, and there was a whirlwind affair that produced a new daughter, Valerie Rayne. Dick was in the car rental business and promptly recruited Norma to work alongside him at Thrifty Car Rental. Not long after, she decided to try her hand at car sales and so then onboarded with Spitzer Buick. This turned out to be her perfect career fit.
As a car sales person, she kicked A$$, many times finishing as the top agent, but always in the top 3. She was relentless, and driven to be the best. Her clients LOVED her because she operated with ruthless integrity! You have to remember, these were the times that coined the phrase “seedy car/vacuum sales person”! She was truly a breath of fresh air to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, which is why they ALWAYS came back and referred their friends and family to her!
Meanwhile, in her personal life, Billie married, and this gifted Norma with two amazing grandchildren, Angel Marie and Vincent Michael. She fell head over heels in love with being a grandma, and this was renewed 20 years later when Valerie had two kids of her own, Jaret William, and Reese Samuel. Not long after, she was also blessed with great grandchildren, Richie and Gianna Csongedi.
She was THE BEST grandma/great grandma! Letting the kids play in the mud on rainy days, and taking them fishing, which was a past time she loved! They did other things too, such as skiing, going to St. Patrick’s Day parades, and Indians and Browns games! She also took her daughters to concerts, horse races, and Cloverleaf Speedway! When Billie was younger, she enrolled her in ballet, Billie was quite the performer, and actually ended up on the Ed Sullivan show!!! Norma was also very well loved as a “rink mother” during Valerie’s skating years. She “adopted” everyone who needed love! It is important to note that Norma was also a talented seamstress, making every one of Billie’s and Valerie’s costumes! In her younger years, she was a fantastic golfer, winning competitions of her own! She also loved roller coasters, and was actively going on them into her 70’s! She was always competitive, fearless, and unquestionably lived life to the fullest!
In her 40’s and 50’s, mom also used to tear up the town with her close friends, Debbie, Yvonne, Sissy, Jan, and Gay.
We could write a historical book that would easily become a best seller on this beautiful soul. She not only was a survivor, but she thrived, and put love first through it all. She led with her heart, and always had a smile and a kind word ready, and definitely walked in God’s light with him by her side.
We are so sad for the loss of the human shell we all loved, but we know you are with us mom, and always will be. Thank you for this, God ❤️
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