July 3, 2008

She was a business woman, a caring friend, and a good mother. That's how many remembered 49 year old Norma Lopez.
Three News attended Thursday's memorial service for Norma. Her family welcomed our cameras inside Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship Church on Staples. They wanted to show others how loved and cherished Norma was to so many. Lopez died earlier this week, a victim of a murder suicide committed by her estranged husband

Maria Lopez is 9 years younger than her sister, Norma. She says she was just 12 years old when Norma married her first husband. She recalls being in awe over how pretty her sister was. Maria says Norma called her Mari, and they would talk at least once a week.

"I would like everyone if we can do something in the memory of Norma, to make the system work better," said Maria. "She had a restraining order, but it was just a piece of paper."

Maria said she'd like the courts to come up with some sort of GPS system for those people involved in a restraining order. She said that way it could be known when the persons are coming to close to one another.

Norma filed a restraining order the same day she sued for divorce. She detailed an incident of physical violence, and the verbal abuse she experienced while married to 55 year old Roberto Saucedo. Monday morning Saucedo walked into Norma's self-owned business and shot her in the head. Saucedo then returned to his van and fatally shot himself in the head.

At Thursday's memorial service, there were tears. One of Norma's 3 sons and his wife spoke briefly at the podium. Michelle Jasso asked others to be like Norma.

"Better yourself, your lives, and be like her. We need more people like her."

Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship Pastor, Don Leavell, said this is one of the most difficult times in my life. Norma regularly attended services at his church.

But in the end there was resolve, Norma wasn't in a casket, but in Heaven where she belongs. Two of her close friends said that they had dreams about Norma, and in the dreams Norma told them she was now in Heaven, and not to be upset.