Longtime Federal Way/Auburn resident Helen Norman passed away peacefully on March 12 at the age of 87 years. Helen was raised on her grandparents’ farm in Pilger, Sask., Canada. She left the farm at age 16 to go to British Columbia, Canada, to finish her education and earn her teacher’s certificate.
Upon receiving her certificate, Helen’s 1st assignment was on Vancouver Island in Port Hardy, where she met and married Virgie Elliott (deceased USN). At the end of WWII, they moved to Washington state. Helen lived in the Puget Sound area while raising eight children. Six of her children graduated from FWHS, one from TJHS and one from Mt. Rainier. She then achieved personal success in the administration field for SYSCO while also representing Avon.
An adventurous soul who loved to travel, Helen and her late husband, Jim, spent time in Europe visiting friends, many of whom they had met while on their various cruise adventures. Their last cruise was to the Panama Canal while it was still an American possession in 1999. She was fond of New Zealand and Australia, having spent several vacations there. Helen’s favorite trips were those to see her grandchildren. She traveled many miles in the U.S. and Australia to celebrate the milestones of family life. She treasured the independence traveling gave her and continued to travel the U.S. as the years went by.
In recent years she enjoyed talking with her grandchildren about their achievements on Skype, reading historical articles and stories, gardening, pinochle and bingo. Helen is survived by seven of her eight children: Jeanne Voss (CO), Wayne Elliott (WA), Patricia Quinn (NY) Lynn Carrigan (WA), Dan Elliott (MI), Brad Elliott (ME), and Michael Elliott (Australia). Helen’s husband, Jim Norman, and her oldest daughter, Anieta Reust, preceded her in death. She had 15 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. After 87 years of adventure and love, Helen will be placed to rest at the Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery with her husband, Jim, on April 16, 2012. Rest in Peace and Love, Mom. We miss you. Memorial gifts gratefully suggested to the Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
