Norma Jeanne (Raabe) McCollum

Norma Jeanne McCollum, of North Buffalo Township, passed away on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.  Her end care was supplemented by the staff of Good Samaritan Hospice.

Born in Butler, PA on September 29, 1933, she was the only daughter of the late Marl Raabe and Thelma (Rauschenberger) Raabe.

Norma was co-valedictorian of Butler High School Class of 1952.  Subsequently, she attended Capital University in Ohio.  Norma worked in the office at Pullman Standard in Butler until her marriage to Wayne McCollum in 1955.  She became a homemaker and maintained her love for theater arts.  As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeport, she enjoyed directing the youth plays, and participating in the Butler Little Theater.  She was gifted in the performance of monologues and a fan favorite at the annual talent show at Pioneer RV Park in Florida where she and Wayne resided during many PA winters. While raising her family, Norma worked from home as a theme reader for Worthington School District.  She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, writing poetry, and spending time with her family.

Norma is survived by her five children; her son, Paul (Rebecca) McCollum, of Scottsville, KY;  four daughters, Marla Hamel, of Eaton Rapids, MI, Lisa (Jerry) Bookwalter, of Kittanning, Amy (Ronald) Boltz, of Cabot; and Anna (Heath) Edelman, of Lititz, PA; 11 grandchildren, Michael (Penelope) McCollum, Laura (Patrick) Tebben, John McCollum, Matthew (Ann) Hamel, Maureen (Joshua) Croft, Angela (Joshua) Brittingham, Sheila (Daniel) Papale, Steven & Rachel Boltz, and Nicholas & Emily Edelman. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren, Maggie, Emma, Norah, Anson, Conrad, Molly, Aubree, Isaac, Luke, Florence, Desmond, Jaden, Jericho, Danny, and Megan. Finally, Norma is survived by two sisters-in-law, Mary Jane McCollum of Portland, OR., and Alma Early of Freeport, PA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne L. McCollum, son-in-law Daniel Hamel, and four brothers, Marl Jr., William, James, and Kenneth Raabe.

Friends will be received on Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 12-2 & 4-6 pm at the Redmond Funeral Home, Inc., 524 High Street, Freeport, PA.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024, at 10 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeport, PA with Rev.  Dr. Jeffrey Truscott officiating.

Interment will follow at Slate Lick Cemetery.

Memorial donations for Norma may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeport, PA, or the Butler Little Theatre.

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