Norma Esther Thorum Giacoma Obituary (1916 - 2006)

A One-of-a-Kind Lady The family of Norma Esther Thorum Giacoma announce the passing of this sweet, determined lady in the early morning of May 23, 2006, just nine days after she celebrated her 90th birthday, and forty years and one day after her beloved Pete died. She fought a good fight to the end of her life, which was the same way she came into it on the third official U.S. Mother's Day, May 14, 1916. Norma was born to James Orlando and Esther Dahl Thorum at LDS Hospital, as the eldest of five children. She came into this world as a severely underweight baby according to the standards of the day, and was expected to survive only a few days. Yet, as she demonstrated on so many occasions during her life, she beat the odds for 32,881 days. One of the last things she said before she died was, "I like to live!" On February 14, 1941, Norma married the love of her life, Pete Paul Giacoma, at Farmington, Utah. They were later sealed together for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake LDS temple. Their posterity currently includes 3 daughters and sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren and 1 granddaughter-in-law, and 6 great-grandchildren. After Pete died in 1966, though she had no formal education past high school, Norma determinedly fought on by going back to school, graduating at age 52 years from Utah Technical College with an LPN certification. She spent the next 15 years working as an LPN at Valley West (later known as Pioneer Valley) Hospital. She was also very involved in church and civic affairs, serving in the LDS Relief Society and Primary (over 50 years) and in 4-H clubs. She received a Silver Beaver award for her dedicated service to Scouting. The family expresses it's deep appreciation to the staff of Highland Care Center and Applegate Hospice, Dr. M.J. Norman, and other dedicated health care professionals who lovingly and tenderly cared for Norma during the last 22 months of her life. Norma is survived by daughters, Sharon (Preston) Day, Dixie (Wayne) Simper, and Paula (Jeff) Jensen; grandsons, Pete Day, Milo Simper, Scott (Anna) Simper, Marty Simper, Daniel Jensen, Elder Spencer Jensen, and Derek Jensen; great-grandchildren, Jestin Simper, Riley Simper, Preston Day, Weston Day, and Colton Day; brother, Glen (Donna) Thorum; and sister, Ruth Conlon. In addition to Pete and her parents, she was preceded in death by granddaughter, Cathleen Day; great-granddaughter, Jacqueline Simper; and brothers Sherman and Robert Thorum. A viewing for Norma will be held on Tuesday, May 30 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, and again on Wednesday, May 31 from 10:00-10:45 a.m. at the Taylorsville 14th Ward, 4375 South Atherton Drive (1250 West), Taylorsville. Her funeral will take place at the church on Wednesday beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Murray City Cemetery.