Norma Wetzel

Norma Thatcher Wetzel was born on March 25, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Norman and Marion Thatcher.  She was their only child.  She attended Frankford High School, where she met her future husband, Joseph Wetzel.  Norma and Joe were married on February 27, 1965.  In 1969, after Joe finished law school, Norma and Joe moved to Troutdale, Oregon with their first two children, Kirstin and Michael.  Three more children were born in Oregon - Matthew, Alexis and Trent.Norma’s greatest loves in life were her family, collecting Mary Hoyer dolls, and music.  Norma was a soloist in choirs thoughout high school.  In Oregon, Norma was the choir director at Zion United Church of Christ in Gresham for many years, and later sang in Cantores en Ecclesia choir in Portland.  After Joe’s death in 2006, Norma moved to Salem, Oregon.  She became a very active member in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir, participated in the Music Guild, and in the St. Claire’s Guild.  Norma was also very active in her local doll club, The Wagon Wheel Dollers. Norma died at home of natural causes on January 8, 2019. She is preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Marion Thatcher, and by her husband, Joseph Wetzel.  She is survived by her five children: Kirstin Wetzel (Bill), Michael Wetzel (Lisa), Matthew Wetzel (Kirstin), Alexis Mendez (Alfredo) and Trent Wetzel.  She is also survived by her seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Music Ministry, with the designation that it is in honor of Norma Wetzel. Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1444 Liberty St. SE, Salem at 1:00 on January 19, 2019.