July 4th, 1923-June 29th, 2018 Passed away at home, June 29th, 2018 at the age of 94. She began her long and adventurous life, as Norma MacDonald Thompson in Niagara Falls, Canada and grew up near the ocean on Prince Edward Island. She attended convent schools and graduated from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia with a degree in library sciences and continued on to receive a masters degree from McGill University, Montreal. She was in the Canadian Women's Army Core during the Second World War and after the war she began her career at Montana State University as a librarian. There she met John William Herkes, from Hilo, Hawaii whom she married in 1951. She then started a life as a homemaker and raised four children, living on various sugar plantations on Oahu, Kauai, The Big Island, Puerto Rico, and Peru. In 1969 she returned to work for the Hawaii State Library System. She retired in 1990 having served as the head of the federal documents section. During her long life she always enjoyed nature, especially the ocean, animals, of course reading, swimming, and helping people. Norma's quick wit, and sense of humor endeared her to all. She is survived by, her four children, Katherine (Joseph Augustine), Ian, Janetta Napp, Jennifer (Charles Williams) and grandchildren, James Augustine (Leiola), Nils Napp, Kai Napp, Malte Napp (Janeane). A funeral mass will be held at 12 noon, on Saturday September 8th, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, followed by an ocean paddle out memorial ceremony held at the Hui Nalu Canoe Club, Hawaii Kai at 2:30 pm. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of the Library, PBS Hawaii, or to The Nature Conservancy. Arrangements Provided By: Ultimate Cremation Services LLC
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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