Norma "Normita" Rodriguez

Norma "Normita" Ponce Rodriguez September 30, 1955-June 6, 2018-ETERNITY In the early morning hours of Wednesday June 6, 2018 Heaven welcomed home its latest Angel. Norma "Normita" Ponce Rodriguez was born on a Friday on September 30, 1955 in Mexicali, Mexico to her Mother Graciela Ochoa Ballesteros from Mexicali and her biological Father, Ernesto Ponce Amavizca from Yuma Arizona. God called her home to begin her eternal life but not before she left an indelible footprint in the lives of hundreds of people whose lives she would touch, and a legacy that will outlive her for untold thousands more. Normita met her husband Eddie in Tacoma Washington in 1982. From the very beginning, theirs was a fairy tale love story, marrying and producing three marvelous children, Natasha Davila (Nick), Vanessa Flores Rodriguez (Vince) and Ethan "Reggie" Rodriguez, plus two grandchildren, Isabella Faith and Corianna Grace, all of whom she referred to as her "favorite" contributions to the world. Norma devoted twenty years of her professional life to government public service jobs across the human resources/personnel field, beginning first at the Washington State Department of Personnel in Olympia, and later moving to Pierce County Government Personnel in the same capacity. But it was her passion as a biblical educator that led her to participate or lead up to 15 different Bible Study groups across her adult life, even serving one year as an Associate Chaplain at the Purdy Women's Correctional Facility here in Washington State. Her daily devotional study of the Bible, and her willingness to share the insights she learned from it, guided, comforted, and inspired her husband, children, mother, sisters, brother, numerous other family members, many, many friends and completely random individuals whom she tried to influence to begin and sustain a faith walk with God. Norma was a lifelong giver, always putting other people, especially her husband and her children, before herself. Even on the final day of her earthly life, Norma sacrificed herself mightily for someone else, completing her pledge to donate her eyes to an individual whom she will never know, as an organ donor, when she was identified as a match for another human being in need. Norma was always a happy person, spurned on from her unwavering faith walk, and both her happiness and faith walk were infectious. She was smart, filled with leadership qualities, and a person who loved life. Norma was a hopeless romantic, taking advantage of every opportunity (especially during Valentine's Day) to let those she loved know how much she loved them. Whenever Norma would conduct Bible Studies around the Puget Sound, people who would be grateful to her for sharing the word of God often asked her, "who is it that teaches the teacher"? Norma most often credited her local Pastors, Kevin and Sheila Gerald for sharing their Biblical knowledge and Biblical concepts. Additionally, Norma referenced Pastors Victor Burgos, Doris Tucker, Linae Lloyd of Tacoma/Pierce County as well as Emmanuel Ziga from King County for expanding her knowledge of the Bible so that she could share the teaching with as many people as possible. Norma was also greatly influenced by Haskell "Hack" Yadon, with whom Norma would begin the International Interpreter Ministry, and Jeri Nicholson, the Praise and Worship Pastor whom Norma loved for her passionate musical worship leadership, also from the Champion Center in Tacoma, Washington. Norma loved music, especially romantic Spanish love songs. Norma never knew her birth father, so she was always fond of saying that God was her Father, and that God was the only Father she ever needed. Norma was a head turning, strikingly beautiful, sexy woman with a smile and a voice that would light up a room. She may not have been a person of monetary wealth, but she was fortune 500 wise in the ways of God. She accepted the glioblastoma brain disease she was diagnosed with in late November 2014 with courage and grace, fearlessly fighting back against her illness for nearly four years, even after being told that her life expectancy with a Stage 4 diagnosis meant that she could expect to live for no more than 10 months. Norma did not fight against her illness because she was desperately trying to cling to life, but rather because she was willing to give herself up as a person willing to experiment with medical advances, in case she could help others, especially potentially her own children, to chart a better path to restored good health. Norma was medicine for the soul to her husband who confidently says that NO ONE he's EVER known EARNED their way into Heaven more than his dear wife Norma. And while her husband, and his children (Norma's most valued treasure) are in the midst of heartbreak over the loss of Norma, the family knows that Norma is in a better place, free of illness, suffering and pain, BORN AGAIN into a glorious paradise, where her husband, children and future ancestors, will join her again someday when their days on this earth are over. Anyone wishing to pay their respects and view Norma one last time is invited to her visitation on Friday June 29th, 2018 from 9am to 9pm at Powers Funeral Home in Norma's hometown of Puyallup Washington. A memorial celebration of Norma's life will take place the following day, on Saturday June 30th, 2018 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Champion Center Church in Tacoma Washington where the family also invites you to share in fellowship and food. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Norma's name, of any amount, to either one of Norma's favorite charities, The Champion Center Foundation of Tacoma, or the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Arrangements by Powers Funeral Home.