- Date Of Birth: May 24, 1957
- Date Of Death: August 26, 2017
- State: Maryland
Norma J Smith Asem (60 years old) of Damascus, Maryland, originally from Vancouver, Canada, passed onto glory peacefully surrounded by her loving family on August 26th, 2017, after a courageous 15 month battle with breast cancer. She was beloved wife to Manasseh Asem. Norma was born on May 24th, 1957 daughter to Norman and Gertrude Smith. She was raised in Chilliwack, Canada and attended local schools there.
She went on to graduate from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Science, Special Education, and Canadian Studies plus a Fifth Year Specialty Certificate. She earned her Master’s Degree from Gonzaga University in Teaching and Curriculum Instruction, with special emphasis on Environmental Education.
Norma started work in Vanderhoof as a teacher, where she worked for about 20 years.
She was a hardworking and dedicated teacher and enjoyed a tremendous teaching career in which she designed programs to help troubled young people graduate high school and go on to postsecondary programs. She taught math, science and special education. She then taught at Penticton High School.
Norma eventually met the love of her life and now spouse Manasseh Asem on 24th December 1999 in New York City, and they got married in Penticton on February 22, 2002. She subsequently moved to the United States where she first taught at Wadleigh Secondary School in Harlem, New York City for 2 years before moving to Heritage High School in 2004, Leesburg, VA, where she taught until her passing.
Norma’s passions were helping others, travelling with her husband, bargain hunting for antique pieces and watching movies. She was the Washington Capitals number one fan, although the Vancouver Canucks were a close second, especially with a double-double from Tim Horton’s in her hand. She also enjoyed American football and often purchased all kinds of Washington Redskins paraphernalia which she gifted to family and friends. She is survived by her loving husband Manasseh Asem, brother Dave Coopersmith and sister-in-law Val Coopersmith, sister Barbie D Weppler, sister Darlene Smith, niece and nephew Katherine Davies and Andrew Coopersmith, several loving “sisters”, “brothers”, nieces and nephews and a world full of family, friends and students whose lives she touched in the most amazing ways. She was one of a kind, and will be deeply missed.
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