Norma J. Havel, nee Rick, age 82, of Fairview Heights, IL was born on October 1,1942 in Centreville IL, died peacefully at home Tuesday, April 1, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Norma graduated from St. Theresa Academy in 1960 and immediately began working at National Auto in East St. Louis. She married Lawrence Havel on June 10, 1965. She worked at National Auto until pausing her career to raise her three children. While raising her children she served as a sales associate at JCPenney from 1980-1986. In 1986, Norma returned to her previous position executing accounts payable at National Auto in Clayton, MO until her retirement in 2003.
Norma was a former member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and later St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, St. Louis, MO. Norma loved a weekend trip and was most fond of visiting Branson, Missouri. She loved crosswords, cryptograms, and reading. She was a lifetime Cardinals fan and most loved the Whitey Herzog teams. She enjoyed making home cooked meals for family and manicuring her flowers and yard landscape. She had a special penchant for crocheting. Norma loved watching westerns, building puzzles, and collecting owls.
Norma especially enjoyed spending time with her grandkids from attending picnics to playing scrabble to teaching them how to cook. She often joked about not liking dogs but loved her many grand pups, 10 total. They were in her company through her last days.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence C. Havel, Jr.; her parents, Martin J. Rick and Mable nee Traituer Rick, her siblings, Linda Golightly, Dorothy (Elmer) Mueller, Frank (Dorothy) Rick, Martin (Helen) Rick, Lester Rick, and Patricia (Jim) Aldridge; and her grandson, Lawrence M. Havel.
She is survived by her son, Lawrence D. (Brenda) Havel of New Castle, IN, her daughter, Paula (John) Toenjes of Fairview Heights, IL, her daughter, Deanne Havel (Mike Johnson) of Pocahontas, IL; and her grandchildren, Lindsey M. Toenjes of Fairview Heights, IL, and Joshua E. Toenjes of Pasadena, CA, Amanda Lance of Highland, IL, and Cody Lance of Collinsville, IL. She is also survived by numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Norma’s Life will be celebrated with her husband, Lawrence C. Havel’s Life on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Elk’s Lodge, Fairview Heights, IL.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church 505 Fountain Parkway, Fairview Heights, Illinois. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s foundation, the Dementia Society of America, Belleville Humane Society, or in the form of masses to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fairview Heights, IL.
A special thank you to Vitas Hospice Care for making her comfortable in her last days and fulfilling her wish of being at home in her final day.
