Norma was born March 17, 1940 in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to the union of Cristela and Oscar Villarreal. Following her mother's second marriage to Jose Luis Lopez, Norma was the oldest of eight siblings. She grew up in Mexico and frequently traveled to Laredo, Texas, where she met her husband, James Grady Parker, married in June of 1958, and together had four daughters. Together they lived in San Antonio and New Orleans for several years before making the move to Maywood, IL.

Norma spent her time sewing, building her home business as a dog groomer and later a massage therapist. She thrived on caring for others and was known to bring other children into her home and heart regularly, oftentimes raising them as she would have her own. Her pets, and the pets of her family and friends, were doted on as much as her children and they knew that she would be their go-to for a scrap from the table, no matter how much you begged her not to, because "they're family, too".

She was an active member of her church and spent many hours reading her Bible and visiting with friends and neighbors. She was known to always be on the go, traveling anywhere from the local grocery store to her home town in Mexico as often as she could manage, regularly with a friend or relative along with her for company. She loved parties and music, with one of the highlights of her final birthday being the mariachi band that played her favorite songs for her.

Norma loved to have beautiful things around her with fond memories for all of them. She loved bright colors and loved to show this in her clothing and a bright pink manicure. She frequently brought souvenirs during her travels and shared them with those around her. It was not uncommon for her to not let you leave her home without something you had commented on appreciating. Just as often, her family and friends joked about her asking to have a piece of jewelry from them only to get it back the next time they saw her.

Norma is preceded in death by her mother Cristela, father Oscar, step-father Jose Luis Lopez, brother Alfonso, and husband James. She leaves to cherish: her siblings Albina, Cristela, Gloria, Jose Luis Jr, Martha, and Yolanda, daughters Patricia, Norma, Susan, and Anna, ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and relatives that were blessed to call her family. She leaves just as many that she chose to call family.

Memorial service for Norma will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 3pm, Divine Providence Catholic Church, 2550 Mayfair Avenue, Westchester, IL