Norma Caroline Eckerson Horstmann

Norma Caroline Horstmann

Windsor, CT Norma Caroline Horstmann of 1 Emerson Drive, Windsor, Connecticut, died peacefully on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at the age of 91. She was born on November 13, 1914, the only daughter of Charles and Lola (Twining) Eckerson, both of whom died before Norma was seven years old. Until she was fifteen years old, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, Frank L. and Carrie (Eggleston) Eckerson. She was married for twenty-six years to George Beach with whom she had three children: Marilyn, Lillian and Gary. After his death in 1956, she was married to Edward G. Horstmann Sr. and became the mother of his two sons, Christopher and Alan. With her husband, Edward, she had one child, Edward Jr. Throughout her adult years she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who had a great spirit of fun and enthusiasm and a tremendous love of life. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse for over thirty-eight years, served as a real estate broker with her late husband, Edward G. Horstmann Sr., and was an Advocate for the Elderly with the Office on Aging in Bennington, Vermont. She was for some years a Charge Nurse at the Bennington Convalescent Center. In her retirement years she was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham, New York, where she also conducted a painting class. In her latter years she became a proficient painter and golfer, and loved to take daily walks on the bike path along the Mohawk River. She volunteered at Thanksgiving Day community dinners in the Albany area and a member of the Helping Hands of Colonie, New York. She was a passionate lover of nature, an avid reader and wonderful cook and housekeeper. She loved gardening and being near the ocean, and derived a lifetime of enjoyment from trips which she took to Europe and Great Britain. In recent years she had been a resident of Jefferson House in Newington, Connecticut and Kimberly Hall North in Windsor, Connecticut. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward (1975), and her son, Gary (1977). Survivors include Howard and Lillian (Beach)VanDenburg of East Greenbush, New York, and Adolph and Marilyn (Beach) Sica of Syracuse, New York; a son, Edward Horstmann Jr., and his wife, Margaret Morris-Horstmann of West Hartford, Connecticut; two stepsons, Alan Horstmann and his wife, Shirley, of Scotia, New York and Christopher, of Schenectady, New York; and a daughter-in-law, Gudrun (Horstmann) Langille of Florida. She had thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren of whose accomplishments she was very proud. Through her marriage to Edward Horstmann Sr. she is also survived by four nieces and a nephew. Memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 13th at 12:30pm at Calvary United Methodist Church, Corner of Belle Ave and Ridge Place in Latham. Memorial contributions may be made to the Book of Remembrance Fund, Immanuel Church, Hartford, CT 06117 or Connecticut Hospice Visiting Nurses Association, 111 Founders Plaza, Second Floor, East Hartford, CT 06108.

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