Norma Jean Alfrejd (nee Boyd), 84, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025 with family at her side.
Norma was born in Nevada, Missouri to Maybelle Boyd Rabon (nee Warner) and William Emmett Boyd. Her father passed when she was very young. Her mother would re-marry, Estel Rabon. She was the eldest of three children, brothers, Ronald Boyd and Ford Rabon.
Her life and ambition took her many places – from her birthplace in Nevada, Missouri to LeLoup, Kansas, then to Blue Island, Illinois. Favorite childhood memory of hers included attending a one room schoolhouse with her aunts and uncles, while spending time on her grandparents’ farm. It was there she developed her interest in becoming a teacher. She graduated from Blue Island High School in 1958. Then, onto Waverly, Iowa to attend and graduate from Wartburg College with a teaching degree in 1962.
Norma moved to southern California with friends to begin her teaching career. Her first job was in Huntington Beach at Circle View Elementary in 1962. She spoke fondly of her teaching years with college classmates and new friends. They threw parties like “Christmas in July” and enjoyed good times with parlor games and hanging with the sailors.
A high school and college friend’s mother, Edna Alfrejd, knew Norma was in California. She encouraged her son, Don, to contact Norma since they were both from Blue Island. Norma was a friend of Don’s sister, Beverly, since age 14. It began simply with him delivering the Blue Island Sun Standard newspaper. It would blossom into a relationship, first with brunch, concerts, dancing and then while heading for a ski trip with friends, she realized he could be the one. They married on Catalina Island July 31,1968 with great friends Carol and Tom Bailey in attendance. They would later honeymoon at Lake Arrowhead. Norma and Don enjoyed exploring California together in the late 60’s and early 70’s. In later years she stated, “All the time we lived in California was like a honeymoon. Don loved to play tourist. We were always on the go. I don’t think we left a tourist spot unvisited.” She continued teaching until they welcomed their first child, Kristie, and happily gave up her career to start their family. In 1971, April was born in Long Beach.
Around 1973, they moved back to Illinois to be closer to family. Michael and Aimee arrived in 1976, and Heather would complete their family four years later. Their love story is a testament to their joy and shared passion of taking an active role in their five children’s schooling, sports and other activities. Their lives were rich with shared experiences: side-by-side in the stands cheering on their children, making family traditions like the annual family outings to Six Flags and Warren Dunes, preparing our favorite birthday dinners, and many Mother’s Day lunches at Cog Hill Golf Course.
She treasured her days as a Sunday school teacher at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Burbank, IL, volunteering to write out ribbons at the Burbank Stingrays swim meets for Michael, Aimee and Heather, attended her children’s many dance recitals, band concerts, baseball and softball games, and most importantly, connecting with and getting to know people.
Norma made friends wherever she went. In later years, she loved attending Annual Family Reunion trips with her Warner family in Missouri. Her mother was one of seventeen children, so first cousins alone totaled over 50. When she attended parties, reunions, weddings, or talking to family and friends, her warmth and genuine interest in others was apparent and will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
In her later years, she found great pleasure reading, writing and receiving letters and cards. She was a voracious reader, a book a day was not uncommon. Norma also loved Christmas and collected Santa Claus figurines from around the world. Her delicious plates with a variety of home-made Christmas cookies and fudge, or hand churned cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, are some of the things we cherish about holidays over the years.
Norma is survived by her loving children, Kristie (late Raymond) Whittemore, April (Marc) Matsui, Michael (Camille) Alfrejd, Aimee (Manuel) Jimenez, and Heather Alfrejd; her cherished grandchildren, Marissa Jimenez, Sierra Whittemore,
Faith Alfrejd, Daytona (Adam) Laquerre, Michael Alfrejd Jr., Caprice Whittemore, Matthew Jimenez, Benjamin Jimenez, Mason Matsui, and Lila Matsui; two adored great grandchildren, Aspen Laquerre and Dakota Laquerre; her brother, Ford (Beverly) Rabon and the late Ronald (Theodora) Boyd; countless cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and her lifelong friends.
She was preceded in death by her dearest husband, Donald; and her sister-in-law, Beverly (Ronald) Blake.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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