Women’s Club’s warmest welcomer dies at 96

Norma Lenkowsky, a longtime Costa Rica resident and stalwart member of the Women’s Club of Costa Rica, passed away Dec. 3 at the age of 96, after a short illness.

Norma and husband Joe moved to Costa Rica from the U.S. state of New Jersey in the 1970s. She joined the Women’s Club in 1976, served as its president in 1984 and 1985, and over the years held various positions on the club’s committees and board. In recent years, after retiring from committee work, she acted as the welcoming person at Women’s Club meetings and events.

“She was an amazing, elegant lady who always greeted everyone with a smile on her face,” said friend and fellow Women’s Club member Grace Woodman, who described Norma as a very caring woman who believed strongly in the club’s mission to support children’s education in Costa Rica. She added that Norma was famous for her delicious jams – always best-selling items at the Women’s Club Annual Bazaar.

Norma will be greatly missed by her family and numerous friends. She is survived by a daughter, Marcia, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned for January. This weekend, a group of Norma’s friends is organizing a tag sale of her belongings, Dec. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Norma’s home in Alto Las Palomas, Santa Ana, southwest of the capital. Proceeds will be donated to the Women’s Club in Norma’s name, in accordance with the family’s wishes.

For information about the sale, call 8369-7992 or 8841-0026. Directions to the house: From La Paco shopping center in Escazú, go 1.9 km west on the old road to Santa Ana, veer right into Valle del Sol residential community and follow signs straight ahead to house 27.