Oh Mom... we are nearing the four month mark since your passing. Happy Easter to you, wherever your soul maybe laying to rest. Now that I have some time, I'm going to do some blogging. Here's your obituary that I wrote just for you. It is also found on the Eden Brook Memorial website.
With love, Deannie
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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Norma “Baby” Sanchez Estrella, age 86, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Norma passed away peacefully in her sleep in her Calgary home on December 12, 2025, where she lived with her eldest son.
Norma was born on February 27, 1939, in Manila, Philippines, to Dominador Sanchez and Pilar Fulgencio Sanchez. She grew up with joyful yet humble beginnings, surrounded by her four siblings and large extended family. A true trailblazing immigrant, Norma was the first in her family to immigrate to Canada in the 1960s. Soon after, she sponsored two of her siblings, as well as extended family and friends, to join her abroad. After establishing a life in Canada, she financially supported her parents and family back home, helping them build a more secure and fruitful life. In addition to raising a beautiful family of her own, this remains one of her proudest accomplishments and enduring legacies.
With an educational background in office administration, Norma held various roles throughout her career, including secretary, legal assistant, and administrator, working in Makati, Toronto, and Calgary. For the final 20 years of her career, she was a dedicated civil servant with the City of Calgary, working until the age of 69, when she finally decided to retire. Her organizational skills carried seamlessly into her personal life, she was always the financially responsible one in the family, known for planning ahead, and always remembering birthdays and anniversaries.
As the story goes, Norma was courted and eventually convinced to go on a first date by Augusto Estrella at a Sears retail store in Toronto. They were married on February 7, 1970. Their son David was born in 1971, and in 1974 the family moved to Calgary, where Mabel and Dean were born and raised with the loving support of Norma’s aunt, Teresa.
Norma will always be remembered for her gentle soul, lighthearted kindness, generosity, and selflessness in caring for her family near and far, all rooted in her devoted Catholic faith. She was a quiet philanthropist, faithfully supporting multiple charities across the country. Giving was simply part of who she was.
A dedicated homemaker, there was no task she would not take on. This included sewing multiple matching outfits from the same fabric, cutting (and occasionally perming) her children’s hair until their ears and necks were itchy and red, driving to the shopping mall at 35 km/hour while choosing the farthest parking stall to avoid other vehicles, meticulously cutting coupons, and of course, cooking delicious, hearty meals. She loved preparing traditional Filipino dishes and desserts and was especially known for her hinimay, mechado, bola-bola, menudo, and her take of blintzes from Eastern Europe. Norma would never turn down Chinese food or sweets like halo-halo or bibingka, and her face would light up at just the thought them.
Norma adored music. It was her dream to play the organ and piano like a master and wished her kids would follow suit, to her dismay. Frank Sinatra and other crooners filled the house on weekends, with Norma often singing along. Her playful spirit extended to games such as Scrabble, Words with Friends, Bingo, and cards. If not physically playing, she could often be found watching game shows like Jeopardy or, in earlier years, cheering passionately at WWE wrestling, shouting at the television like a devoted sports fan. She also enjoyed any and every action film.
Norma laughed often, kept positive, and rarely got upset. If she did though, you better watch out for her flimsy slipper or for her stern warning, “I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”. She was a homebody content in her space but enjoyed the company of her family and close friends, often on the phone or video chatting with some for hours at a time. A great listener, she rarely interrupted and would often empathize with her unique verbal nods in Tagalog.
Norma is lovingly remembered by her son David (Crystal), daughter Mabel (Shawn), son Dean (Carlos), three grandsons Jasper Cole “JC”, Ruben, and Isaac “IC”, her brother Carlos (Benelida), sister Pilar (Reynaldo), and many nieces and nephews (Lauren, Michael, Jon, Anne, RJ, Jen, Bobby, Rowena), their respective children and multiple other relatives in the Philippines and United States. She is predeceased by her husband Augusto, sister Elnora, brother Roberto, and nephew Ronald.
Family and friends are invited to a Prayer Service and Tribute, followed by a reception, on Sunday, December 21, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at Eden Brook Funeral Home. Those unable to attend in person are invited to join Norma’s Prayer and Tribute via livestream (see link below). A recording of the service will be made available afterward.
https://my.forever.link/register/EdenBrookFuneralHome/norma-estrella
A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, December 22, at 2:00pm at Eden Brook Funeral Home, followed by burial and reception.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ~ Maya Angelou
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