95-year-old receives special surprise after volunteering at hospital salon for over 40 years
Published at | Updated at
BLACKFOOT – Norma Furniss is becoming a permanent fixture at Bingham Memorial Hospital in more ways than one.
Furniss has been a volunteer with the Pink Ladies hairdressers at the hospital’s beauty shop for more than 40 years and that beauty shop now carries her name.
Furniss was surprised when she came in on Friday morning to see the new sign out front — Norma’s Beauty and Barber Shop.
“I can’t believe this,” Furniss tells EastIdahoNews.com.
Friday was also Furniss’ 95th birthday. She was born Feb. 2, 1923, in Poplar, Idaho, the seventh of nine children of Edsel Hyrum Adams and Nessie Mecham Packer. She grew up in Bingham County, graduating from Blackfoot High School in 1940.
“We just thought we should do something,” said volunteer coordinator Sheri Peck. “She is well known by the residents and she is here every Friday morning. It just seemed fitting.”
Every Friday morning since 1971, Furniss has donated 5,000 hours of her time curling, combing, and styling hair.
“I enjoy it. Everybody is so nice. I always loved doing hair,” says Furniss.
When her five children were little, Furniss aspired to be a cosmetologist and signed up for cosmetology school.
“I was getting ready to pay my tuition and thought I have five kids, and decided I didn’t have time to study,” Furniss said.
Furniss and her fellow volunteers have formed lifelong friendships with each other, as well as the residents.
BMH also provided each volunteer with new shirts and smocks that have the “Pink Ladies” logo.
