RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Norma Lorraine (Thibodeau) Paradis, 89, of Palm Desert, Calif. (formerly of Lewiston), died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019 at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. after experiencing a stroke.

Norma was born in Lewiston on Aug. 3, 1929, the only daughter and middle child of Rose A. (Richards) and Phillippe Thibodeau Jr. Her brothers were Wallace Thibodeau of Lewiston and Paul Thibodeau of Enfield, Conn. Educated in Lewiston at the Jordan Platoon School, she then graduated from Lewiston High School in 1947, known to her friends as “Tibby.”

She married Oliva J. Paradis on May 31, 1954 at the Saints Peter and Paul Church, where they were communicants and parishioners, and lived in Lewiston until moving to Palm Desert Calif. in January 2019. Oliva Paradis passed away on March 15, 1998.

Always extolling the virtues of education and “hard work,” Norma worked throughout her teenage and adult years, employed by the S.S. Kresge Department Store, Gilbert’s Beauty Salon, Hestia’s Beauty Salon, as an independent hair stylist and finally retired as a Central Supply Technician for the Central Maine Medical Center.

Norma shared her passion and love for the outdoors and fishing with her husband Oliva. Together, they took many expeditionary fly fishing trips to Moosehead and the Rangeley Lakes, often accompanied by their nephews. Norma was an artistic, compassionate and outgoing person. Her artistic nature led to her loves of sewing and making clothing for her grandchildren and family, quilting, drawing in pen and ink and painting. Her compassionate nature led her to serve as a Cub Scout Den mother, volunteer at the d’Youville Pavilion where she assisted residents and facility staff, often organizing group gatherings centered on musical events and volunteer hundreds of hours making blankets for cancer patients at the Dempsey Center. Norma’s outgoing nature led her to enjoy exercising at the Cardiac Rehab Center at CMMC, line dancing and membership in the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary and Lewiston Chapter of the Red Hat Society.

Her two sons, Paul Paradis of Santa Monica, Calif., and Peter and spouse Mary (Swank) Paradis of Vienna, Va., survive her; as do her four grandchildren, Katelyn, Ryan, Peter and Patrick, who will forever remain the lights of her life and sources of her smile. Surviving nephews and nieces are Michael, Janice, Roger, Pamela, Karen, Michael, Ann, Roger, Raymond, Richard and Roland.

Her parents Phillippe (1984) and Rose (2001); husband Oliva (1998); and her brothers, Paul (2009) and Wallace (2010); and her niece Peggy (1991) predeceased her.

The family extends their appreciation to the doctors, nursing and hospice staff at the Eisenhower Medical Center and Atria Hacienda Memory Care facility for all of the special care given to Norma during her final days.

Condolences and donations may be found online at www.albert-burpee.com.

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