Norma Amelia Baisch

Norma Amelia Baisch, 95, passed away peacefully in Walla Walla, WA with family nearby on July 17, 2024. Norma moved from her beloved hometown of Rochester, NY to Walla Walla during the pandemic in August of 2020 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Amie and Bradley Green. They provided her with a loving home and continual care for nearly four years. Amie and Brad's three children, along with their nine grandchildren, also live in the Walla Walla area and often visited their grandmother/great-grandmother, affectionately known as Gigi.

Norma was born to Ronald R. Bradt and Mary Davis Bradt on December 24, 1928, in Rochester, NY, just before the Great Depression. She loved to tell the story of being born at the home of her Aunt Cora, who was a nurse, rather than in a hospital. Norma grew up in Rochester, the oldest of five children. During high school, she worked in a factory for the World War II effort as did many women and girls. She told of her job ending on Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) when the war ended and of her excitement at being part of the celebrations throughout the city.

Norma graduated from East High School in 1946 and worked as a clerk in various positions after high school. She met her future husband, Herbert J. VanValkenburg (known as Van), of Hornell, NY, at a square dance in 1948 in Rochester. They married in January of 1950 when they were 20 and 21 years of age. After marriage, they lived in rental homes in Rochester where their first four children were born. With a growing family, they purchased a home in 1957 in Brighton, NY, a suburb of Rochester, where they welcomed two more children. The home was surrounded by Ellison Park, which provided a wonderful natural setting where their children could explore woodlands, creeks and meadows. The home was also a gathering place for both Norma's and Van's siblings and their families, providing many memorable times with aunts, uncles and cousins.

During their marriage, Norma kept the books for Van's construction company and was a stay-at-home mom, while also providing daycare for other children. In 1967, Van and Norma purchased a building on East Main Street in Rochester, where they opened Main Galleries, Objects of Art and Antiques, also known as Vann's Antiques. They managed the business together for many years and were joined by their oldest son, Herb, after he graduated from college in 1972. They bought antiques and art from around the country, as well as importing items from Europe. Along with unique offerings for sale in their retail shop, they frequently held auctions in North Carolina, Louisiana and California.

Norma and Van divorced after over 20 years of marriage but remained close until Van's death in 1986 at 57 years of age. After their divorce, Norma worked as an accountant at Xerox for over 10 years and bought her own home in Rochester, which became a gathering place for family in the area, as well as for family visiting from out of state. Norma spent much of her time with her grandchildren during those years, including having sleepovers, parties, and driving them wherever they needed to go.

Norma was a caring and generous matriarch with a fun-loving, adventurous spirit. She frequently traveled to visit family in California, Washington, South Carolina and Florida, sometimes taking grandchildren with her. Norma had an outgoing personality and made numerous friends throughout her life. She remained particularly close to her childhood friend, Ellie McGarigle, until Ellie's death in 2018. Norma was also close with her sister, Kathie Ryan, and sister-in-law, Sally Premo, and fondly remembered her times with each of them.

Norma married Matthew F. Baisch in June of 2000 when she was 71 and Matt was 81, after courting for almost two years. Norma first met Matt while she was dating Van in her early 20's when Matt was married to Van's sister, Mae, who died in 1997. Norma and Matt were formerly brother and sister-in-law, each married to a VanValkenburg sibling. Mae and Matt's family and Van and Norma's family lived near each other and were close while raising their children. Decades later, Norma and Matt's marriage joined the two families into a blended one.

Norma and Matt enjoyed 17 wonderful, adventurous years together before Matt's death at 96 years of age in August of 2015. Their late-in-life love was inspiring to friends and family, as was their love of life, which was evident in their daily walks around the neighborhood, strolls on Lake Ontario piers, playing nightly words games, or traveling to Rhode Island, South Carolina, Florida, California and Washington to spend time with family. Their adventures, whether at home or away, were anything but ordinary, including hot air balloons rides, soaring over upstate New York in a WWI bi-plane, seaplane flights over the Adirondacks, and river rafting in Yosemite National Park.

After Matt's death, Norma moved to an independent living apartment at St. John's Meadows in Rochester where she lived for over five years before moving to Walla Walla. She met new friends there, including Marge Pum. Marge and Norma became best friends, spending many hours walking the grounds of St. John's, as well as going to classes and musical entertainment there. Norma and Marge were able to see each other again when Norma visited Rochester in the summer of 2022.

Norma was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert J. VanValkenburg, and her second husband, Matthew F. Baisch; her parents, Ronald and Mary Bradt; beloved uncle, Charles Davis; her siblings, Ronald Bradt, Barbara Lane, and Leonard Bradt; and niece, Mary Ryan Lindberg. She was also preceded in death by sisters-in-law, June Bradt, Ann Bradt, Mae Baisch, Mable Beers, and Sally Premo; brothers-in-law, Ronald Lane, Thomas VanValkenburg, and Gerald Beers; and son Herb's partner, Deborah Ovington.

Norma is survived by her six children, Herbert R. VanValkenburg of Rochester; Chera Van Burg of Sturgeon Bay, WI; Eric VanValkenburg and partner Johanna de Vries of Bellingham, WA; Amie Green and husband Bradley Green of Walla Walla, WA; Kurt VanValkenburg and wife Eileen O'Brien VanValkenburg of Churchville, NY; and Celia VanValkenburg of Williamson, NY.

Norma also leaves behind many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Herb and Laurel's daughter, Holly Jacobs and her husband Curtis Jacobs and their son Hendrix of Rochester; Eric and Barbara's daughter Shauna Werner and her partner Christopher Roy of Anchorage, AK; Amie and Brad's son Paul Green and his wife Carley Green and their children Boaz, Ezekiel, Jesse, Levi and Milly of Waitsburg, WA; daughter Kari Green Noack and her husband Jared Noack and their children, Cayleb, Ella, Everett, and Meadow of Walla Walla; and son Tyler Green and his wife Kylie Green of Walla Walla; Kurt and Eileen's son Shayne VanValkenburg of Spencerport, NY, and daughter Shannon VanValkenburg and her partner Daniel Morrissey of Greece, NY; Celia's daughters Neko Elko and Neko's daughter Hawk Elko Jasper of Ithaca, NY, and Ducky Ross and her husband AJ Ross of Arcata, CA.

Norma is also survived by sister Katharine Ryan and her husband George Ryan of Charleston, SC; former daughters-in-law, Laurel Richane and her husband Carl Richane of Penfield, NY, and Barbara Werner of Bellingham, WA; and former son-in-law, Kenneth Elko and his wife Ella of Bristol, NY. Norma also leaves behind numerous treasured nieces and nephews and their families.

Two Celebrations of Life will be held for Norma – one in Walla Walla, WA and one in Rochester, NY. All are welcome.

The first Celebration of Life Service is on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 6:00 PM with dinner to follow at 1120 Valley Vista Ave, Walla Walla WA.

The second Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM, at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Rd, Pittsford NY in the All Seasons Gathering Room. Norma's ashes will be buried in a private ceremony on the Nature Trail at White Haven.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Norma's name can be made to Rochester’s Highland Park Conservancy or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.