Obituary

Norma Lee Thornfield (Carlsen), age 70, of Mission Viejo passed away Wednesday, October 10, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Norma was born in Laurens Iowa to Norman Carl Carlsen and Naomi Flora (Bakewell). She grew up in Long Beach along with her brother Neil where they grew up learning how to horseback ride, swim, and especially loved watching their mother run a successful accounting business her father had left her. Growing up they were the first to have a television in their neighborhood, and loved attending church with their neighbors.

Norma was a graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School when she was only 16 years old. After high school she joined a dance academy where she loved to dance, and then eventually ended up moving to New York to attend College. After her first year in college she came back home for the summer to California, where she met and fell in love with her husband Michael. They dated for only a month and instantly knew they were meant to be married for the next 49 years of their lives. They were married on July 27th 1969, and ever since then they lovingly celebrated their anniversary with a kiss on the 27th of each month. She was a stay at home mom and later a working mother for over 20 years providing for her family. Norma was a loving wife and mother to her 3 sons and spoiled them every chance she got. Norma also loved her grandchildren dearly, she talked about them to everyone she met and told them how much she loved them and was proud of them. Her family was her life, and she fought every day of her illness to be here with them.

We are reassured she is in heaven now dancing away in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and even cracking some jokes as well. We will forever miss her and her sense of humor, but will cherish her memory with us always. God called his daughter home too early but what a wonderful time she must be having in his presence. As she always told her grandson, I love you today, forever and always we will forever feel the same way. We miss you deeply and think of you with every breath we take.

Preceded in death by her grandparents Arthur Lee Bakewell and Florence Marie (Sires); Sigurd Carlsen and Andrea Christine (Nielsen); parents Norman Carl Carlsen and Naomi Flora (Bakewell). She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Michael E. Thornfield; son, Edward M. Thornfield and his wife Martha (Margarit); granddaughter Rena; son, Adam N. Thornfield; son, David M. Thornfield and his wife Belen (Aguilar); grandson Hezekiah; brother Neil Carlsen and his wife Gavin; Nephew Leif Carlsen and his wife Tori ; Niece Autumn Brubacher and her husband Craig, and daughters Analise and Savanah; Nephew Svein Carlsen and his wife Anais; Nephew Aret Carlsen and his wife Daisy.

Memorial Service for Mrs. Norma Thornfield will be held on October 27th 2018 at 2:00 pm at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills CA , Pastor Brian Andersen from Mission Hills Church will be officiating the service.