Norma L. Hayden

Born in Temple, Texas, on October 13, 1923, Norma was the middle child of William F. Odenbach (1861-1958) and Henrietta L. (Berger) Odenbach (1884-1946). As a young girl growing up on a farm in Lott, Texas, Norma shucked corn and tended cotton as their farm prospered, and it was here where one of her favorite expressions – “Never lead your ducks to a poor market.”— took root. Norma developed into an accomplished athlete, playing on the women’s basketball state championship team for Lott High School, from which she proudly graduated in May 1941. In August 1941 Norma went to Yuma and married Jack C. Hayden, then the two headed West to Inglewood, California.

Shortly thereafter WWII came to the United States, and Norma exchanged her old basketball uniform for a new look: that of the “We Can Do It!” / Rosie the Riveter variety, and she threw herself into the war effort. Working at North American Aviation in Long Beach, California, Norma helped build B-24 bombers, and as late as November 2019 could still point out – and drive to! -- the location of the hangar where she had worked. With the birth of her son Jackson in June 1942, the Hayden family moved to Orange, California to be closer to relatives, residing in a bungalow on Pixley Street that still stands today by the Orange Depot train station. Later they bought their new home on Mayfair Avenue near Orange High School, where both her son Jackson and her grandson Morgan (b. 1964) became OHS Panthers.

Norma later joined Bank of America where an early retirement allowed her to assist her husband Jack in his work as a jeweler and watchmaker until his passing in March 1988. Norma then moved to Rohnert Park, California, where she did volunteer work for the Santa Rosa Hospital, and dazzled patients in her favorite red and white “candy striper” uniform. Later, Norma was instrumental in organizing and assisting Seniors on Cruises, helping coordinate bus and train excursions for elderly travelers across the United States and Canada. In the mid-1990s, she took a “Lap of America” trip by car that lasted several months as she followed her dream of doing family genealogy research. Following the birth of her great-grandson Tracer Malloy, Norma moved back to Southern California to join the new addition to the family.

And join the new addition, she did! Norma became a huge force in her great-grandson’s life, who nicknamed her “Gigi” at a young age because it was easier to pronounce. Following her major heart surgery, Tracer kept “Gigi” young and spry, spending hours with her with his toys, playing frisbee in the yard, and later she attended many of his music concerts and performances as he grew. She enjoyed playing the Easter Bunny immensely, and the holidays were especially treasured, as Tracer and Gigi would often decorate her house together.

Norma was preceded into the afterlife by her husband Jack C. Hayden, her parents William F. & Henrietta L. Odenbach, her younger sister and eldest brother Edward Odenbach both from Texas, and her son Jackson Hayden of Hilo, Hawaii, who passed in January 2019.

Her laugh and sense of humor will be missed by her survivors: her nieces and nephews in Louisiana, her grandson Morgan G. Hayden of Volcano, Hawaii, her granddaughter-in-law Kathy D. Hayden of Mission Viejo, California, and most of all, her great-grandson Tracer M. Hayden, also of Mission Viejo, California. Norma “Gigi” Hayden was as one of the lucky ladies fortunate to have taught her son, grandson and great-grandson how to drive, and we would like to think that she is up in Heaven in her favorite car— the sunroof open, with Barry Manilow pouring out of the CD player at high volume—as she heads up Heaven’s Interstate into the mysteries of this Universe, and the next.

We love you, Gigi.