Norma J. Mathes, 94, of Marseilles, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 10 at St. Columba Catholic Church with Father David M. Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., prior to services Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial park in Ottawa. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Norma was born August 14, 1924, in Morris, to Carl “Otis” and Josephine (Rifflard) Phillips and she was raised by the late Everett and Mary Dudgeon. In 1945, she married Ralph Mathes of Ottawa who preceded her in death in 2009.
Norma was a member of the St. Columba Catholic Church. She was a stay at home mom taking care of her four children. She was always very active in her grand and great-grandchildren’s lives, always attending their events. She was also a volunteer at the Community Hospital of Ottawa for many years.
Norma is survived by two daughters, Marilyn (Jim) Steenhoek of Ottawa and Carol DeMoss of Marseilles; one son, Ralph Jr. (Christine) Mathes of Marseilles; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one daughter, Kay Kozel; one grandson, Jason Jensen; two sisters, Laura Foss and Ethel Mitchell; and three brothers, Russell, Edwin and Otis Phillips.
Memorials may be given to the St. Columba building fund.
Pallbearers will be Jeff, Todd, and Chuck DeMoss, Dustin, Kyle and Kraig Mathes, Jensen Bryant, Jack Snook and Payton Jensen.
Norma was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayers.