Norma J. Perry

Norma Jewel Perry, 94, peacefully passed away on May 7th, 2024 at Welcome Home care facility in Castro Valley surrounded by her family and caregivers.  She was born on April 3, 1930 to Norman Joseph Brower and Eva Carvalho at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. She was raised in Oakland for most of her life with her mother, Eva, and stepfather, Charles Grant. At the age of 16, she went to live with her Grandmother and Grandfather, Mary and Nicholas Lubratick and her Aunt, LaVerne Lubratick. Norma graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1948. After high school Norma started working for an insurance company, Hardware Mutuals in San Francisco.

Norma loved to dance. She would attend dances with her friends from work on Friday and Saturday nights. One night while at a dance at the Ali Baba in Oakland, Norma met the love of her life, Leroy Perry. They were married on April 21,1951 and spent many more years dancing together. They spent 70 years dedicated to each other and their family.

Norma worked her entire life while raising a family until she retired at the age of 62. She worked for Merle’s Camera Shop on East 14th Street in Oakland learning the art of taking photos and stocking the shelves with equipment and gifts for the shoppers to purchase.  Louis Stores is where she started in the field of accounting and then moved on to The Carpenters Hall in Hayward where she worked in the front office. Norma’s favorite job was with Mercy Retirement Center in Oakland. She loved working with the residents, nuns and employees there. She retired from Mercy on December 31, 1992 and continued to volunteer and help run the Country Store for the residents for many years.

Throughout all these years she always made time for her family and friends. Whether it was taking time every day to cook meals for her family or large family gatherings on all holidays, birthdays, or any event she could think of to celebrate. She loved creating beautiful flower arrangements for family, friends, or church events. She learned how to make cakes for any family/friend occasion for years.  She took many vacations with her immediate family, extended family and friends whenever possible.  She had an exuberance for life and loved sharing her talents with others.

Norma was a devout Catholic and sharing that example of love, giving to and for others, was apparent to her family, friends and all those she met. She was on the parish council and helped with many events at St. Cyril’s School and church where her children attended grammar school. In May of 1983, she became a Secular Franciscan. She was well loved for her artistic talents and good direction.  She was very involved at St. Paschal Baylon Church with parish council, many ministries and was Hospitality Coordinator for 25 years there. It was her home away from home.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy (2021) and her sister- in- law, Stephanie Grant (2022). She is survived by her daughter, 2 sons,1 son in law, and 2 daughters in law; Vicki Louie (Ray), Daniel Perry (Renee), Stephen Perry (Lina); 5 grandchildren and their spouses, 5 great grandchildren; 2 brothers, 1 sister, 1 sister- in- law; Charles Grant (Gloria), Nicholas Grant, Randolyn Grant-Kelley

The viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at Santos Robinson Mortuary, 160  Estudillo Ave., San Leandro from 12 noon to 8pm, Rosary at 6:00 pm. There will be a Funeral Mass, Thursday, May 16th at St. Paschal Baylon Church, 3700 Dorisa Ave., Oakland at 10:00 am. A celebration of Norma’s life to follow in the hall.

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