Norma Elizabeth Mulligan, One hundred blessed years!

It all started May 14, 1924.  Norma was born to Swedish parents, Dagmar and Richard Peterson, in Santa Ana, California.  After moving several times, the family finally settled in Bellflower, California.  Wherever they lived, her parents provided a loving home for the family.  Norma loved her parents, her sister Margaret, and her two brothers, Robert and Kendrick.

While in Bellflower, Norma went to Excelsior High School.  She was very active in all types of organizations.  She was a member of the chenille club, she was secretary of the student body, and she was president of the girls' league.  She was also involved in many sports.  She loved to play basketball, speedball, field hockey, and volleyball.

After graduating from high school, her family moved to Selma, California to be closer to relatives.  Norma attended Reedley Junior College and earned an associate degree in business.  While at college, she enjoyed driving the school bus, taking students from Selma to Reedley.  She especially liked the return trips when she would stop at a local market to let everyone get an ice cream treat.  She also continued playing sports and was on the Reedley College basketball team.

Norma worked as a typist for the government at the fairgrounds in Fresno.  She also worked as a book keeper at J.C. Penney in Selma.  However, her real job began after she got married.

After dating a short time, Norma married Jim Mulligan on May 2, 1945.  They were happily married for 69 years.  The first year of their marriage they lived in Texas because Jim was drafted into the army.  After the war, Norma and Jim returned to the Mulligan family farm in Selma and settled into their new home.  The home was soon filled with six children.  Emulating her parents, Norma created a loving environment for her kids.  She enjoyed taking care of her family.  Having a few kids, Norma found herself involved in PTA for many years.  Norma was a great cook and baker.  She was known for her delicious meals and decadent desserts such as creampuffs, a mile high chiffon cake, fruit pies, and a chocolate cake to die for.  She loved canning and preserving many of the fruits and vegetables from the garden.  In her "free time" Norma loved sewing, cross stitch, quilting, genealogy, and reading.  She always enjoyed a good mystery.  Throughout her life she was devoted to her faith.  She enjoyed attending bible study groups and being involved with the Catholic Women's Club.  One of her favorite things to do was to sit at the kitchen table and talk with family and friends while drinking a cup of strong coffee.  Either in person or on the phone, she was always a good listener and was genuinely interested in other people's lives.

Norma passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home with family by her side May 18, 2024. One hundred blessed years!  Thanks be to God!

Norma is preceded in death by her husband James Thomas Mulligan Sr., her son James Thomas Mulligan Jr., her parents Richard and Dagmar Peterson, her sister Margaret Langstraat, and her brothers Robert and Kendrick Peterson.

Norma is survived by her daughters Yvonne O'Brien and her husband Guy, and Evelyn Bisel and her husband Rod; sons Mark Mulligan, Ken Mulligan, and Ed Mulligan; and daughter-in-law Eloisa Mulligan.

Grand children: James Mulligan III and his wife Kristi, Matthew Mulligan and his wife Christine, Leanne Hodson and her husband Adam, Warren Bisel and his wife Martha, Louisa Bisel, and Laura Bisel.

Great- grandchildren: D.J., Jamie, Andrew, Emma, Cecelia, Frederick, Delila, Sarah, Julia, Damian, Jeremy, Aaron, Franklin, Dylan, Paul, Anthony, and J.T.

Great-great-grandchildren: Octavia, Alexa, Hayden, Isaac, May, Maggie, Oliver, Adaline, Bernadine, Calliope, Zoe, Logan, Shane, Charlie, Amari, and Sage.

Thank you to the Bristol Hospice care team.  Your guidance and support was greatly appreciated.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM, at Holy Family Church, 1275 Smith St, Kingsburg, CA, 93631.  A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at Holy Family Church in Kingsburg, CA.  A Christian burial, following the funeral mass, will be held at Selma Cemetery at 2430 Floral Ave, Selma, CA.  Following the burial, a reception will be held at the Swan Court at 2950 Pea Soup Anderson Blvd, Selma, CA.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Norma's honor may be sent to Holy Family Church, P.O. Box 798, Kingsburg, CA, 93631, or to your favorite charity.  Thank you.