Norma J. Moss

Norma Jean Moss of Plymouth, passed away March 15, 2016, at the age of 73. She is survived by her three beloved children: Lee (Lisa) Moss, Timothy (Deborah) Moss, and Rachel (Jason) Potter, her 15 loving grandchildren: Courtney, Katie, Leah, Maria, Nicolette, Heather, Amanda, Samantha, Brandon, Richie, Lindsay, Marisha, Jordan, Amelia, and Jonah, and her six beloved great-grandhildren: Lucas, Jensen, Mackenna, Kaiden, Dalton, and Joesph. Norma also is survived by 8 of her siblings: Margaret, Frances, Luella, Agnes, Jerry, Marilyn, Ruth, and James. She was preceded in death by her dear grandson Jacob and three of her siblings: Percey, Virginia, and William.
Life began for Norma Jean on Nov. 27th, 1942 in Filion, MI. Born to William Charles and Burnetta Blanche(LaLonde) Forbing. She did not get the chance to know her father very well, as he passed away of Leukemia when she was very young. Life was far from easy for the 4th youngest of twelve children growing up on a farm in the upper part of the thumb area of Michigan. Eventually, with older siblings growing up, marrying and moving away, life on the farm got to be too much for her mother and the younger siblings. So moving around from place to place, searching for what would be the next chapter in their lives became common place for a while. The lifestyle would prove to shape her into the tough, strong, no non-sense, tell it like it is gal that she became. This mentality would prove to give her the strength needed to overcome many hard times throughout her life.
At some point in the early 60s, Norma found herself living in Plymouth, MI. She met a charming man by the name of Lee Moss, who by all means had wandered far from home in search of work and a better life himself. She admits that at first, she didnt care all that much for him, but after her mother suggested a couple walks around the lake, she became Norma Jean Moss on Jan. 16th, 1965. Early married life in Michigan continued to be much of the same, moving around, seeking a place for good work and starting a family. Sometime after giving birth to her two sons, Lee Jr (1968) and Timothy (1971), she found herself living in North Carolina. With life there proving to be a rocky road and not what she wanted, she decided to head back to Michigan. She was pregnant at the time, so soon after, Rachel(1975) expanded the family to five.
The family would resettle in Plymouth, where Norma would spend the rest of her life raising her family. In 1984 she went to work at Vico Products, a manufacturing facility of fasteners that supplied the auto industry. She would work here roughly until 2006. All during this time, she would watch her children marry and bring many grandchildren and great grandchildren into her life. All while advancing from an hourly machine operator, to inventory control specialist, to salaried manager. She very much enjoyed her work and wasnt exactly ready for retirement, but her health determined that it was her only option. It proved to be nothing short of the best thing ever. Not only for her immediate family, but all of her extended family, as she now could devote her time, wisdom and love to those who needed it.
Norma would spend the remaining 10 years of her life sharing in the growth of her family and being everything to everyone. Although over these final years, her health would slowly decline and the medical attention would continue to increase, she always found time to enjoy every moment in her children and grandchildrens lives. As with any older generation, technology proves to be a challenge. But one of her favorite things, once mastered, was logging into Facebook and keeping in touch with family and friends where she extended her reach of touching those who reached out to her.
The last few years of Normas life would be filled with health struggles, but she never lowered her head, and she fought until the end to be there for the ones she loved. Although she had many struggles and challenges throughout her life, she would remain rock solid in her faith. And in the end, it was that very unfaltering faith that earned her a peaceful exit from this life into her eternal glory in heaven. In the last week of her earthly life, under the guidance of Angela Hospice and the loving care of her family, she said, I see Jacob on the shoreline. A few days later, her grandson most likely took her by the hand, possibly walking barefoot together in the sands of that very shoreline, leading her home to live a life with Jesus that she so much desired. Sister, cousin, aunt, mother, grandma, great grandma or friend, she leaves behind a legacy of strength, love, faith and hope to all those who knew her. Visitation for Norma will be Friday, March 18, from 2-8pm at the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main Street, Plymouth, 48170. A rosary service will begin promptly at 1:30pm for those who wish to attend. Norma's Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 19, at 11:30am at St. Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 N. Haggerty, Plymouth, 48170. Norma will not be in state at St. Kenneth ahead of the Mass. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.