Grandma Norma

Grandma, Kristen, and I

My fun red-headed grandma who traveled the world, danced and acted, had ample lipstick samples and fancy hats for little girls to play with, made caramel corn and apricot leather, was quick to laugh, and loved everyone in such a tremendous way, happily passed away the other evening.  While I will miss seeing her, she has imprinted my life and will always be a part of it.  I smile when I think of the joyous reunion that must have taken place when she passed into the next life and was reunited with her husband, daughter, 10 siblings, parents, and more.  I have been immensely blessed by this wonderful woman. How grateful I am for the eternal nature of families and the knowledge that I will see her again someday.

Norma Jane Broadbent Smith passed away April 27, 2010 at the age of 86. She was born May 24, 1923 in Heber City, Utah to Charles Nuttall Broadbent and Sarah Jane (Jennie) Wood. She grew up in Heber, the youngest of 11 children. Norma graduated from Wasatch High before attending the University of Utah, where she met her eternal companion, Lowell Deane Smith. They were married June 28, 1943 and made their home(s) throughout the United States during World War II. After military service they lived in the Salt Lake City area, then moved to Preston, Idaho before settling in Ogden, Utah where each of their 8 children graduated from Ogden High School. Lowell and Norma's activities in their church and social organizations (many and various) were never as important as the activities in their own home. All children, including their own plus any neighbors, relatives including friends of friends were all welcome at "Smithville" with several such gatherings occurring when all of the Smiths were out of town. If the doors were ever actually locked, it was simply for show, since more keys to the home on Cahoon Street were carried by "pseudo-Smiths" than by actual family members. Norma often said her childhood home could expand and contract, and sleep 40 as comfortably as it slept one. The "elastic" home Norma was raised in spread to Ogden and has magically followed into later generations. Norma was preceded in death by all 10 of her siblings, her daughter Maryam, and her husband Lowell. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl (Lonnie), sons, L. Deane, Jr. (Ella), Laurence (Julie), Keith, David (Nancy), Brian (Shelley), Scott (Kelly), 29 Grandchildren, and 52 Great-Grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Edith S. Broadbent married to her youngest brother, T. Ray Broadbent, and Norma N. Broadbent who married her brother, Marden Broadbent. Norma is also survived by her world-wide influence on people too numerous to mention. She served in every capacity a mother of eight finds heaped upon her: PTA President, Den Mother, President / Counselor / Instructor in several Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations, as well as Gospel Doctrine Instructor. She served on the Church's Primary General Board; the LDS Church Writing Committee; and was 2nd Counselor to Sister Elaine Cannon in the General Young Womens' Presidency. For six years, she traveled the world teaching and preaching with prophets, seers, and revelators. She was nominated Ogden City's Mother of the Year shortly after her release. She served a mission with her sweetheart, Lowell, on Temple Square. Here again they mingled with people from all over the world and loved every minute of it. She was a member of the University of Utah School of Nursing Advisory Board where she served a term as President. She also served on the Ogden School Foundation. The expanding world influence is still growing through her posterity and the missionary program of the Church. To date, nineteen missionaries have served in twelve countries on four continents and on islands of the Pacific in the Philippines and Taiwan. For the most recent eight years she lived in Kaysville with her eldest son before moving to Apple Village in Layton. The family is grateful to Deane and Ella for giving Mom a comfortable place to live worry-free ("worry-free" never really comes to mothers). We are also grateful to the staff of Apple Village and the nursing staff of the Caregivers Support Network who attended to her for several months as her physical needs became constant and until her fragile frame said, "That's enough."  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Maryam Smith Scholarship in the College of Nursing, University of Utah. Better yet, take your children out for ice cream, and tell them Norma wants them to do the same for their children.