NORMA P. LUSTGARTEN (nee Allen), age 85, of Portage, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2013 in Portage. She was born on October 20, 1927 in Gary to Reynolds and Dorothy (nee Vickers) Allen. She married Raymond I. Lustgarten in Miller on May 8, 1948. Norma was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Portage. She was a 1945 graduate of Wirt High School and attended North Park College in Chicago. Norma valued her family and took pride in being a homemaker. She loved sewing, knitting and all kinds of puzzles. Norma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and words cannot express the deep sorrow felt by her passing.
Norma is survived by her son, Daniel (Peggy) Lustgarten of Valparaiso; 3 daughters, Karen (Jim) Fain of Portage, Linda (Daniel) Mesich of Dove Creek, CO, and Tammy (Steve) Bell of Portage; 10 grandchildren, Michael (Jennifer) Berrier of Portage, Cheryl (Skip) Hilzley of Valparaiso, Lisa (Michael) Dempsey of Oviedo, FL, Jeffrey (Emily) Fain of Charleston, SC, Nathan Mesich and Kyle (Audrey) Mesich all of Durango, CO, Amy and Ryan Bell of Portage, Elaine and Elizabeth Lustgarten of Valparaiso; 9 great grandchildren, Kyler and Marlee Berrier, Lauren, Jake, and Luke Hilzley, Brooklynn and Jack Dempsey, Callista and Isaac Mesich; sister, Joan Will of Portage; brother, Keith (Marabel) Allen of Orange City, IA; other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Raymond in 2003; son, David in 1972; parents, Reynolds and Dorothy Allen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Portage, 5051 Central Ave., Portage, IN 46368.
A funeral service for Norma will be Friday, March 29, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Ave., Portage, with Rev. Michaile Broadnax officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, (219) 762-3013 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.