Norma Bell, 76, of Peoria, passed away at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011, at her home, after a battle with metastatic breast cancer.
A celebration of Norma’s life will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2011, at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria, with Pastor Carol Hulk officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m., prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Norma was born in Oakdale on August 30, 1934, the daughter of Albert and Mildred (Brown) Zacheis. They preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by one son, David Bell.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Music Education. She was a former Jaycette President and was the Executive Director of the Miss Heart of Illinois Pageant for several years, mentoring young women. She was a Field Director for the Miss Illinois Pageant and also served on its board. The majority of her career was spent in School District 150 as a 7th and 8th grade English and Literature teacher.
Norma retired in 2000 and enjoyed tending to her rose garden and the company of her neighbors, as well as her little dog and cats.
She is survived by her two children, Raya Bell and Steve Bell both of Peoria. She had a wonderful life and was an inspiration to many. She was an awesome mother and was greatly loved.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Norma’s memory to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9641 Woods Drive, Skokie, Illinois 60077-1095.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue in Peoria.
Latest Memories
Mrs. Bell guided me in many facets of my life. She was my grammer school teacher as well as my mentor for pageants in my high school and college days. My daughter is now benefiting from Mrs. Bell's experience and guidance in her own pageants. A wonderful woman and an inspiration!
My name is Michael Rosenberg and in the 7th and 8th grade I did a series of speeches for Mrs. Bell's class. One of them, a comedy speech on the toliet, she made me give a number of times and in front of the whole school. Thanks to her I later became a comedy writer, author and do public speaking and facilitation for a living. She was far and away the best teacher I ever had in my life and a great inspiration. I often thought about her over the years as I moved from Peoria to Champaign to New York and finally to Toronto. She was always an inspiration to me and, although I have not seen her for over 35 years, I miss her.
Michael Rosenberg
'Flexible Thinker'
Brampton, Ontario
