Norma Jean (Clark) Hamm, 86, of San Jose, passed away Friday, April 22, 2022 at Villa Fontana Retirement Community surrounded by her family. She was born July 10, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, taking her place as a middle sister to Patricia (deceased) and Mary. Her parents, James and Marie Clark, raised their three daughters in the south side of Chicago and worshipped at St. Rita’s Parish.
Norma met her future husband, Larry, while working as an Illinois Bell telephone operator. They married and started growing their family, eventually leaving the Midwest to settle in Sunnyvale, CA. In all, they raised eight children to whom they were steadfastly dedicated.
Norma deeply valued her husband, her children, and her Catholic faith. She was a long time parishioner at St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Parish in Santa Clara, where she served the community as a catechist, Eucharistic minister, lector, and minister to the sick and homebound. She worked as a receptionist for Weight Watchers for many years providing encouragement and support to members. She also enjoyed playing bridge, Tripoli and bingo, shopping at Nordstrom, and gathering with family, neighbors and friends. She developed a love for travel during the 25th wedding anniversary trip- a cruise to the Caribbean. To her delight, many more cruise vacations followed.
Norma was preceded in death by her father and mother, James and Marie Clark, her husband of 46 years, Lorenz T (Larry) Hamm and her sister and brothers-in-law Patricia and Edwin Mahoney and Louis Ricci. She is survived by her sister Mary Ricci, her many nieces and nephews, her sons, John (Linda), Jim (Janet), Bob, and Tom (Julie); daughters Kathy Carroll (Kevin), Clare Geoffray (Doug), Theresa LaPierre (Charles), and Christina Todoroff (Brian). She also leaves behind 16 grandchildren, Forrest and Aaron Sears, Thomas (Hillaray), Stephen (Morgan), and Brendan Carroll, David, DeLeys and Connor Hamm, Alicia, Michelle and Erin Geoffray, Jack Hamm, Josée and Julia LaPierre, Lauren and Caitlin Todoroff and four great grandchildren, Liam, Emily, Penelope and Scarlett Carroll.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church, 1971 St. Lawrence Drive, Santa Clara, at 10:00am on Friday, June 24th, 2022. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Hamm family.
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