Norma Anita Ristimaki Hood
A Celebration of Life was held for Norma Anita Ristimaki Hood on June 9, 2023, at Trinity Methodist Church, in the Burkhalter Chapel with Reverend Doug de Graffenried officiating. Mickey Cloud provided the beautiful music.
Norma was born on September 29, 1936, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and passed away on June 3, 2023. Her parents immigrated from Helsinki, Finland to Canada where they raised Norma and her brother Ronald.
Norma’s love of music led her to study classical piano and organ for twelve years at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She was church organist for the Finnish and Lutheran Church where she attended in Thunder Bay. After high school she attended Winnipeg Technical College and became a licensed hairdresser and cosmetologist. She acquired a small salon and began working.
In 1957 Norma married J. Elton Hood from Arcadia. Elton was a supervisor with a Texas Oil Company working on the Trans Canada Pipeline when they met. They lived across the U. S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. They had three children who traveled the world with them.
After Norma lost her husband of 37 years, she began traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and the Mediterranean countries with friends from Canada.
Norma belonged to the Gottschalk Music Club, UMW and Littera Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, J. Elton Hood; son, Wendell B. Hood; and brother, Ronald Ristimaki.
Leaving to cherish her memory are daughters, Tory Tettleton ( Tim), Belinda Hays; grandsons, Parker Tettleton, Hal Hays (Kate), Colton Hays (Elayna), Mason Hood; and daughter-in-law Beverly Hood; and one great grandson, Everett Hays.
Private family interment was at Saints Rest Cemetery in Dubach. Honorary Pallbearers were her grandsons.
The family requested donations be made in her honor, to Trinity Methodist Church of Ruston, or charity of donor’s choice.
Special thanks to the staff and doctors at Ruston Regional Specialty Hospital and Northern Louisiana Medical Center for their loving care.
