10/22/2025
Meet Norma Jean Boeke! Born on March 10, 1938, in Lena, Illinois, Norma grew up on a farm where she quickly learned the meaning of hard work—especially when it came to wrangling bulls, which became her least favorite animal. Some of her fondest childhood memories are of playing with puppies, and to this day, she proudly calls herself a “very big dog lover.”
After finishing school, Norma moved to Chicago—her favorite place to live—where she met Harry, her fiancé of 40 years. Though losing Harry was one of the hardest moments in her life, his memory continues to bring her joy and strength.
Norma devoted her career to caring for others as a Registered Nurse, spending 25 years at Roosevelt Hospital and another 15 at ISPI, following in the footsteps of her three aunts who were nurses and an uncle who was a doctor.
Today, Norma enjoys feeding the birds and continues to share her warmth, humor, and lifelong love for dogs with everyone around her.
