Norma Stratton

NORMA JEANNE STRATTON Cedar Rapids Norma Jeanne Stratton, our mother, grandmother and "angel with skin on," passed away peacefully at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, with loved ones at her side, following a short illness on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John XXIII Catholic Church by the Rev. Dustin Vu. Burial: Cedar Memorial Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, and at the church on Tuesday after 9:30 a.m. Those left to cherish Norma Jeanne's memory include a son, Mark Stratton of Swisher; daughters, Christine Stratton of Cedar Rapids and Cami Stratton of Oak Bluffs, Mass.; grandchildren, Samantha Stratton, Cody Stratton, Flint Stratton and Chase Stratton; cousins, Warren Fackler of Cedar Rapids and his family, Quentin Fackler of Mount Pleasant and Margaret Matteson of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and many special friends of all ages. Norma Jeanne Hanus was born April 8, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of John (Jack) Hanus and Louise (Campbell) Hanus. She attended Kenwood Elementary School and graduated from Franklin High School with the Class of 1951. Norma Jeanne attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, studying business, where she was affiliated with Alpha Chi Omega sorority. After meeting Paul Stratton through friends, they quickly became inseparable. They worked together at Iowa Manufacturing as young adults. She had memories of working in the office and seeing Howard Hall in the hallway tipping his hat to her as he walked by with his dogs. On Oct. 15, 1952, she was married to Paul Eugene Stratton at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Norma Jeanne was a proud Catholic who loved God the most. She had great faith in God and people. At the age of 27, she chose to convert to Catholicism so that she and Paul could raise their children in the Catholic faith. Norma Jeanne had read the Bible at that time from cover to cover. She was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fairfax and a current member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. As a young mother, she was very involved in her children's activities, including being a Cub Scouts and Camp Fire leader. She also was very interested in genealogy and had done much research in this area over the years, creating detailed charts for her family. Norma Jeanne worked at United Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. for 10 years, at a local day-care center in the baby room, and also gave of her time and talent as a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center for many years, accumulating 4,000 hours. Norma Jeanne had an artistic soul and had a great fondness for creative pursuits. She enjoyed the beauty of nature and loved watching birds. She noted that a bird, if given the choice between a neutral-colored string and a red one, will choose the red one to build the nest. She loved music (which she shared with her children by taking them to lessons), and she was a great piano player. Norma Jeanne enjoyed going to concerts and figure skating shows, ceramics and painting, and had created pencil sketches of her children and grandchildren. Norma Jeanne always saw beauty in a harsh world. At the same time, she could be very practical. She was never afraid to confront injustice or to gently guide someone to make sure they were doing what they said they would do. An eternal optimist, she actually had a pair of "rose-colored glasses." Of course, she was a sweet mom and grandma, gentle and kind. But she also was immensely funny and intelligent, had a sharp wit, and could be sassy: "Oh, shut up, Hillary!" In recent years, Mom savored the simple moments: driving through Ellis Park to look at the Cedar River and the geese and looking for 'Mugsys' (small fluffy dogs), monitoring all of the developments in downtown Cedar Rapids, trips to Dubuque with her daughter to view the autumn leaves, decorating for the holidays, especially Christmas, and looking up to the night sky when the space shuttle flew over ("Hi, guys!"). She was patriotic and loved seeing the U.S. flag being displayed. She loved children and tolerated cats. Most of all, she cherished God and her family and spending time with those she loved. Norma Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Carol, in 1999; her husband, Paul, in 2004; and her son, Neil, in 2013. Memorials may be directed to St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids or the charity of your choice. Words that come to mind when thinking of Norma Jeanne are selfless, humble, modest and a true lady. For those lucky enough to have known her, they know the world is a better place because she was here. We ask that you honor Norma Jeanne's life by living for God, loving people and smiling each day. Mama, you never thought you were beautiful or strong. You were both beyond measure. You are so loved. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.