Norma J Hampu

Norma June (Francis) Hampu, 92, of Alliance, passed away on June 30th, 2022.  She was with one of her loving aides, who held her hand and told her to smell the flowers of Heaven and she departed peacefully.  She was a sweet, gentle soul who loved taking care of her whole family.  Having been a teacher, she especially loved the little ones.

Norma was born in Akron, Ohio to John and Nettie (Stalnaker) Francis, on December 23rd, 1929.  She and her siblings grew up on a farm in Deerfield, Ohio and had many stories to tell.  Upon graduation from Deerfield high school, she attended West Virginia University and stayed with her Aunt and Uncle, Thelma and Wade Stalnaker.  She began teaching elementary school and as a result of missing her family, she returned to Ohio, where she   met and married George Hampu Jr. whom she married in June 1952.  She completed her bachelor’s degree at Mount Union College in 1960.  She taught at Alliance and West Branch elementary schools.

She is survived by her three daughters, Susan Brown (Alliance), Barbara (David) McCain (Homeworth), Lisa (Bernie) Brown (Alliance).  She is also survived by her grandchildren Michael (Allie) Brown, Sarah (Joseph) Radish, David (Allyssa) McCain, Andrew (Bethany) McCain, Matthew (Courtney) McCain, Ana (Mosi) Dulaney, and Daniel Brown.  She was also blessed with ten great-grandchildren, with two more coming this year.  She is also survived by a sister, Shirley Mayfield of Columbus, and a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband George, in 2018, whom she was married to for 65 years, and siblings John Francis, Imogene Francis, Glenn Francis, and Ruth Rogers.

Norma loved to sing and was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s for many years and also her church choir.  She and her siblings also would sing whenever they got together, with her brother Glenn accompanying them on his harmonica.  She was a member of Church Women United and the Ladies Auxiliary Credinta of the church.  She attended the St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox church during her lifetime with her husband, where she helped with church dinners, events, and enjoyed being a member of the choir.  She embraced her husband’s Romanian culture.  She loved to knit slippers for all the kids, spend time at Berlin Lake, and go on various outings and trips with her husband and siblings.  Being born so close to Christmas resulted in her loving all things Christmas, especially singing Christmas carols with her family.

A funeral service will take place on July 7th at 11am at Cassaday-Turkle Christian Funeral Home, with calling hours one hour before at 10am.  Norma will be laid to rest at Alliance City Cemetery.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the caregivers who helped care for her during the last weeks of her life, Lisa Hawkins, Krissi Hippely, and Brianne Anstine.  They cared for her like a member of their own family, spoiling her as she always did for all of her family.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/aha/donate .