Norma Edwards, 85, of Perryville, formerly of Collinsville, passed away peacefully at Independence Care Center in Perryville on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
She was born on February 11, 1940, to James and Helen (Lechowicz) Mumper in East St. Louis, Ill.
On August 12, 1960, she married the love of her life, Richard Edwards, at First Baptist Church in Collinsville, Ill.
Norma was a loving and devoted woman whose life was centered around caring for others. She worked for many years as a nurse aide at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill., where her compassion touched countless lives until her retirement. Above all, Norma adored her family. She cherished every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and especially enjoyed playing bingo with her son. Her home was always filled with warmth and celebration — she delighted in decorating for every holiday, with enough décor to fill both porches and to keep her bay window beautifully displayed year-round. Norma will be remembered for her kindness, her festive spirit, and the love she shared so freely. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Richard Edwards; her parents, James and Helen Mumper; her in-laws, Carl and Sylvia (Charlton) Edwards; her children, Carl “Ricky” Edwards, Randal “Randy” Edwards, and Ronald “Ron” Edwards; her granddaughter, Christina Miller; her brothers, James, Thomas, Donald, and Kenneth Mumper; and her sisters, Emma Simons, Virginia Borowka, Delores Gipson, and Barbara Emmons. Norma is survived by her son, Russell; daughter-in-law, Tammy Edwards; grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Laurentius, Justin (Heaven) Edwards, Stephanie (Zac) Beckerman, and Stacey (David) Edwards-Koogler; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kyla, Kaden, Cameron, Koi, Autumn, Brennan, Blaine, Audrielle, Aspen, Peyton, Shiloh, Dakota, and Danika; great-great-grandchild, Koast; brothers, Robert (Diane) Mumper and Earl (Beverly) Mumper; sisters, RuthAnn Conway, Nancy Knapp, Patricia (Robert) Barnett, Bonnie (Michael) Noll, Sandra Gutierrez, and Vickie (Thomas) Hladik; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home in Collinsville, Ill.
Following the visitation, cremation will take place, with private burial at St. John’s Cemetery in Collinsville, Ill.
