Sister Norma (Adelaide) Evans, BVM
Sister Norma (Adelaide) Evans, BVM, 93, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, Mount Carmel Bluffs-Gables, Dubuque, Iowa.
Visitation, the Sharing of Memories and Mass of Christian Burial were on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Burial was in the Mount Carmel cemetery.
Sister Norma was born on Jan. 20, 1931, in Penalosa, Kans., to John and Lillian (Jones) Evans. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1948, from St. Patrick Parish, Kingman, Kans. She professed first vows on March 19, 1951, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sister Norma was an elementary teacher at St. John the Baptist in Peosta, Iowa, St. Mary in Waucoma, Iowa; St. Francis Xavier and Annunciation in Kansas City, Mo.; St. Bernard in Los Angeles; and St. Joseph in Wichita, Kans., where she also ministered as learning center director, school librarian, and tutor. She served as a school secretary and bookkeeper at St. Paul in San Francisco.
“At the time of her golden jubilee, Norma commented, ‘I have stayed in religious life because my life has been richly blessed and I have been happy. As I look back . . . I rejoice and marvel at the growth experiences, the blessings, and the ways the Lord and His Blessed Mother have been the designers through it all. It has been a time to give praise and thanks.’” (Eulogy).
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Sister Mary Ann Evans, BVM, John (Jeannie) Evans, and Donna (Lewis) Noblit. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 75 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or make an online gift.
Watch Memorial Mass and Sharing of Memories Download Eulogy Download Sharing of Memories
I met Sister Norma when she lived at the Motherhouse. I was a CNA. I participated in the craft fair selling my pies. Sister Norma loved them. One time, she returned my pie pan with a note that said, “Refill please.” After sister moved into the new building, I was helping her get settled for a nap and I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow” and she said, “Hey, bring me some of your homemade cookies or pies.” She always asked me when my son Joshua was coming to play the cello again. I will miss Sr. Norma. I enjoyed our chats and hearing about her days on the farm. She was an amazing person.