Norma Hauser

Norma Jacqmain Hauser, age 88, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2014 in West Jordan, UT. Born May 29, 1925 in Vincennes, IN, on the family dairy farm, she was raised by her parents, Alida and Arthur Jacqmain, who were of Belgian Walloon descent. Norma graduated from St. Rose Academy in 1943 and attended mass every Sunday at the historic Old Cathedral in Vincennes, the Basilica of St. Frances Xavier. During WWII, Norma volunteered as a hostess for the Cadet Club where many young pilots from nearby George Army Airfield came to dance. She received numerous marriage proposals but waited until 1955 to wed Virginian Frederick Hauser. Fred, a Navy man, survived the torpedoing of the USS Kearney to fight again in the D-Day invasion of Western Europe. They originally met in the Washington, DC area where Norma had relocated to pursue her career with Bell Telephone. He was the love of her life for 48 years until his death in 2003.

In her youth, she was an intrepid horsewoman. She rode Big Red, a 17-hand thoroughbred, far and wide throughout the local countryside, pausing only to jump into the Wabash River to cool both horse and rider. With her tall willowy frame and striking beauty, Norma became a runway and TV model. She could dance the jitterbug like nobody else and had a great sense of humor. When living in California in the early 1950s, her considerable fashion flair once inspired Lawrence Welk to remark, “I want all my daughters to dress like you, Norma.”

An affinity for all things artistic characterized Norma. She designed intricate and beautiful greeting cards for family and friends with pressed flowers. She regularly created large shrine bouquets for her parish churches. A talented gardener, second only to her husband, she grew her own flowers, vegetables, and fruit. She knew as much about the flora (and fauna) of Indiana and Virginia as she did Florida, where she made her home in mid-to-later life, first in St. Petersburg and then in Spring Hill.

In retirement, with her husband, Norma volunteered as an adoptive grandparent for at-risk children and hosted foreign exchange students. A devout Catholic, Norma became a Eucharistic minister, delivering communion to the ill and disabled. She and Fred joined a rosary group and made hundreds of rosaries for Catholic missionaries. A nurturer par excellence, she was revered by all those she helped in life. Her friendships were numerous and lifelong.

Like many depression-era children, Norma never took anything for granted and was a very hard worker. Her dedication to family was unparalleled. Early in her marriage, when her husband was diagnosed with a deadly cancer, she juggled 2 jobs and still drove 30 miles to the hospital every night. Since 2007, Norma had lived with her daughter Alida, and, son-in-law, David Kehrl, migrating between Seattle, WA and Park City, UT.

Norma is survived by daughter Alida; son-in-law David; grandson, Ryan Kehrl (Andrea); granddaughter Laura Kehrl (fiancé Dr. Michael Holmes); siblings Helen Fox, Arthur Jacqmain, Dr. Ralph Jacqmain, and sister-in-law Dorothy Jacqmain. She was preceded in death by siblings Earl Jacqmain, Julienne Hall, and Mary Hess.

A funeral mass will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday March 4th, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1107 Commerical Way, Spring Hill, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Basilica of St. Frances Xavier (1732), The Old Library Preservation Fund, 205 Church St., Vincennes, Indiana 47591.