Norma, 87, was a role model and hero to all who knew her. She was the most genuine and caring person you would want to meet. She was known for her strong faith in God, selfless acts of kindness, hospitality, great listening skills, insightfulness, sage advice and was considered a second mom to many.

Norma de la Cruz Soriano was born in Lopez Quezon, Philippines on June 6, 1933 to Balbino and Aurelia de la Cruz, and was the second oldest of eight siblings.

Norma led an exciting and adventurous life during her elementary school years. Her father was a government teacher who was assigned to the island of Palawan and several of its smaller islands.  While her father and her uncle served the residents of Culion Island, Norma grew up on the island next to the Culion Leprosy Colony which was known for being the largest and best known leprosy institution at that time. Her father's assignment took them to the Dumaran Island during the onset of World War II. Her family survived the bombing and sinking of the ship M/B Fortuna I while they disembarked from it. The family with other refugees escaped into the jungles of Dumaran Island. At the young age of 10, she helped build the family hut, was the caretaker of her younger siblings, learned to plant rice fields, fished and hunted to survive while hiding from the Japanese through the duration of the war. The more fascinating and most requested story to retell was at the age of 10, she attempted to trap a wild boar for food, fell onto the trap, and the arrow pierced through her leg, then she would proudly show the scars of the entry and exit wound of the arrow. Norma learned many life skills from adventures living in a tropical paradise that she taught her children later in life.

After World War II, Norma and family returned to Asingan, Pangasinan where she enrolled in Binalonan High School and became classmates with her future husband Mimeo.  After graduation in 1952, Norma attended the University of the East in Manila.  While in college, she was a scholarship athlete playing short stop on the university women's softball team. Norma graduated with a bachelor's degree in Accounting on October 1956. Norma was also active in the Knox United Methodist Church choir where she reconnected with Mimeo and love of her life. Norma and Mimeo were happily married for 58 years.

On October 12, 1968, Norma and her first 4 young children immigrated to the United States to rejoin Mimeo, who had immigrated to the USA, 22 months prior. Their fifth child was later born in Seattle. The family relocated cross country to New York City where Norma worked for Swingline Staplers and Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn in their bookkeeping departments.  In 1975, Norma and the family moved to make Hampton, VA their forever home. Norma was an active member of the Buckroe Beach United Methodist Church and continued her love of music, singing in the choir. One of her favorite hobbies and pastime was sewing. She was an accomplished dressmaker and known for her exquisite sewing skills making special occasion church banners, men's suits, evening gowns and wedding dresses for family and friends.  Norma retired working at Busch Gardens' costume department where she enjoyed working with the entertainment performers and costume alterations. She befriended numerous temporary foreign workers at Busch Gardens and extended her hospitality, inviting and accompanying them to tour many sites of Hampton Roads.

She was also an avid gardener, tending to many flowers, an exotic filipino vegetable garden, and a variety of fruit trees.  Norma will always be remembered for her generosity giving to many family, friends and neighbors a variety of canned preserves of figs, apples, pears, cherries and plum; and gifted vegetables and flower arrangements from her garden.  She doted on her five children and seven grandchildren and many more sharing her love of gardening, sharing advice and wonderful memories.

Norma was predeceased by her parents, four brothers and two sisters. She is survived by one sister Ligaya Atencio and Norma's husband Mimeo Soriano; children James Soriano (Marelise), Glyne Conner (Larry), Sharlyne Pyles (Mark), Joy Thompson (Ritchie) and M.C. Soriano Jr;  grandchildren Christopher Emano, Ashley Conner, Megan Still, Jonathan Conner, Ryan Pyles, Justin Pyles, and Jacob Soriano.

Funeral services will be private and have been entrusted to R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home and Parklawn Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.