Norma Torres was born Norma Iris Cintron Rivera on April 23^rd, 1950 in the small mountainous town of Comerio, Puerto Rico in the section of El Barrio El Cielito.  Raised by her mother, Maria Rivera Ortiz, along with her brother Leonardo “Papo” Cintron Rivera and sister, Ana Merida Cintron Rivera.  Norma moved from Puerto Rico to New Jersey, along with her oldest son, Julio Angel Torres, and lived with her husband Angel Julio Torres in Long Branch in the late 70’s and had their second child, Alberto Carlos Torres.  Norma was a staple in the Hispanic Community of Long Branch as she was an active member of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, the only Spanish speaking church in town, for over 30 years.  She worked at the Day Care center that was ran by the church in the “Baby Room” as she oversaw the care of many our community’s newborn and smaller children, building lifelong friendships and bonds with many other Hispanic immigrants moving into Long Branch for a better life.  Norma spent many years caring for her second born son, Alberto, and husband, Angel, as both battled a long and grueling fight with cancer. While her son recovered from bone cancer as a child, her husband was losing his battle  with colon cancer, and passed away on March 18, 1999.  Norma was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the year 2001, and has spent the past 20 plus years battling its affects on a daily basis.  Norma also worked with the Long Branch Public Schools as a teacher’s aide at JMF Early Childhood Learning Center for many years before being forced to retire due to the progression of the Parkinson’s.  Norma moved back to her hometown of Comerio, PR in 2005 to live out her retired years.  Unfortunately, as her disease progressed, she moved back to New Jersey in 2015 to allow her family to take care of her, as she had once did for them.

Norma passed away from complications of Parkinson’s and Dementia on Saturday, February 3^rd, 2024.  She is survived by her two children, Julio & Alberto, along with her 2 step daughters, Wanda Rivera & Thania Villarosa, and step son Angel Julio Torres, Jr. along with her siblings, Leonardo “Papo” Cintron Rivera, Ana Merida Cintron Rivera, half sister Nellie Cintron, dozens of nieces & nephews and grand nieces & grand nephews and countless friends who all loved and admired Norma tremendously.  She will be sorely missed as her guiding light and selfless love will be joined with her late husband Angel and God himself.

Visitation will be Monday, February 12th 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch.