Norma Pao

Norma was a lifelong resident of the area, born in Walla Walla, WA, to Luigi (Louis) and Francesca (Francis) Giani Canziani on June 27, 1933. She died on October 15, 2022, at the age of 89 years, with her sons by her side.

She attended Davis Elementary School in College Place, WA, and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Walla Walla, WA, in 1950.

In 1953 she married John Pao, whom she had known since her childhood. They had two sons, John Jr. and Steven.

In her younger years, she had worked for Hughes Dress Shop, the Capital Theater, The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, and The Jones-Scott Co. before becoming a full-time mother raising her two sons.

Norma often volunteered her time as a Cub Scout den mother and a grade school homeroom mother. She spent many years working alongside her husband on the family farm growing Walla Walla sweet onions and many other crops and often arranged tours of the farm to grade school students.

She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and a member of St. Anne’s Alter Society.

She is survived by her sons, John Jr. and Steven; and a nephew, Dennis Slater, all of Walla Walla.

She was preceded in death by John, her husband of sixty-five years; her parents; a sister, Delores Slater; a brother, Louis Canziani Jr.; a nephew, David Slater; and her beloved companion Mr. Tootles, her pet kitty of eighteen years.

A private family graveside service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery.

She was always kind to animals, and memorial contributions can be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362.