Norma Moord, 94

Norma Jean Moord, age 94, formerly of Constantine, passed away Friday, April 7, 2023 at The Vineyard Assisted Living Community in Kalamazoo. She was born October 12, 1928 in Constantine, a daughter of Merritt and Cleo (Avery) Hassinger. Norma and her younger siblings (John, Dorothy, and Roscoe) grew up out on the “Old Farm” on Millers Mill Road near Constantine.

Norma attended Constantine Public Schools and was a member of one of the earliest squads of cheerleaders at the school. She graduated from Constantine High School in 1947 and on October 31st of that year, the young Constantine gal married Olney A. Moord (her White Pigeon beau) at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine.

By 1952, Olney and Norma had purchased a farm on Featherstone Road and settled their young family there. They were soon the proud parents of six kids who all graduated from Constantine High School. Norma was also a bus driver for Constantine Public Schools and drove bus there for 30 years. She always believed in “Family First” and that you should live a life in service of others. Those values were reflected in Norma’s life as she and Olney were married for 57 years and raised their children in Constantine. Norma was a lifetime member of Messiah Lutheran Church and a member of the women’s club at the church. She was also a founding member of Meeks Mill Garden Club and could always be found enjoying her flower gardens and making floral arrangements to send to family and church events.

Norma (Hassinger) Moord was related to countless families in southwest Michigan. Between raising six children in Constantine, having relatives in all neighboring towns, and driving a bus for 30 years – Norma knew everyone. Even at 94 years young, Norma could tell the life stories of her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and kept track of all of her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She would also know which families and bus kids were still in town or had moved away and to where they had moved. In early spring, you could often find Norma in the Constantine, Mendon, Jones, Colon, and Leonidas cemeteries. She studiously investigated the genealogy of the cemetery population and delighted in decorating and caring for the graves of her loved ones.

In 2018, Norma was inducted into the Constantine Hall of Fame and honored for her many contributions to the school.

After Olney passed away in 2004, Norma moved to Middlebury, and enjoyed the visits of family and friends at her home. She was part of the Breakfast club at the Essenhaus and loved her Middlebury and Shipshewana communities.

Norma moved to the Vineyard in Kalamazoo in August of 2022 and her family soon became frequent flyers at the facility. We can’t express a big enough “Thank-You” to the Vineyard and their staff and Centrica Care Navigators Hospice for showering our mother with their medical expertise, love, and affection during the short time of her stay at the Vineyard. Norma was constantly surrounded by her family and new friends and passed peacefully on Good Friday, April 7, 2023.

Surviving Norma are her children Tim (Neila) Moord, Champaign, IL, Mitchell (LouAnn) Moord, Kimberlee Bojanich, and Peter (Cheryl) Moord, all of Constantine, Kristina (Steve) Hoye, Mattawan, and Sally (Nick) Cook, Bristol. She is also survived by her grandchildren Stacy (Leslie) Moord, Brenda (Eric) Barnes, Chad (Karen) Bojanich, Niki (Mike) Tulley, Mark (Leslie) Bojanich, Rebecca White, Alyssia Moord, Nathan (Liz) Moord, MaRinda (Malcolm) Stamp, MaHaley Moord, Amanda (Joe) Reed, Angela (Shaun) Minger, Megan (Kyle) Rimer, Chase (Jessica) Niblock, Jennifer (Adam) Saupe, Brittany (Dan) Reser, and Danica Dreher, and an abundance of great grandchildren. Also surviving Norma are her sister Dorothy Jennings, brother Roscoe Hassinger, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Olney Moord, brother John Hassinger, sister-in-law Dorothy Hassinger, brother-in-law Bud Jennings, and son-in-law Greg Bojanich.

Relatives and friends will be received Wednesday from 4 to 8 PM at Eley Funeral Home in Constantine. Religious services will be Thursday at 1:00 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine, with Pastor Tom Pederson officiating. Interment will be in Constantine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Centrica Care Navigators Hospice, Messiah Lutheran Church or Meeks Mill Garden Club. Visit Norma’s memorial page to sign her guest book and leave a message for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com.