Nora Lee Whittington was born in Rowland, North Carolina on May 8, 1956, and is the sixth of eight children. Her mother, Estelle, moved the family to Trenton, New Jersey in the 60's where Nora spent the early years of her life. She graduated from Ewing High School and began her career with Mobile Oil Corporation in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1987, Nora relocated to Sacramento, California in pursuit of a better life for her and her family, continuing her IT profession at Intel Corporation in Folsom. She later moved on to Gap Incorporated, then UC Davis State University before retiring with the State of CA, Department of Motor Vehicles.

Nora was a kind, caring, nurturing, loving and generous person. Her most admirable traits were her strength and willingness to be there for others, especially her family. She was the backbone that held us all together, the Matriarch of our family! She will always be remembered for her contagious laughter, her big, beautiful smile, and her undisputed title as "1st to arrive" and "1st to leave" all family functions (and we do mean ALL family functions).

Nora was an avid reader and enjoyed watching anything "investigative". When she felt lucky, she would make a trip to the casino, playing her go-to Wheel of Fortune slot machine. She loved being outdoors, gardening and spending time with friends and family. She had a love for animals and enjoyed the companionship of her fur-babies.

Nora will be missed by a multitude of people. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 35 years, "Joe Tapia", her daughters Tekara and Keona and their father Marshall Hairston, bothers John "Sam Bo" (Ginny) and Ernest Whittington, sisters Doris and Lisa Whittington, grandchildren Jasmin, Jalen and Travell Hairston, great-grandchildren Elijah, Nevaeh and Jayla, several nephews that she considered her own, Doran, Khalif, Marquis, Tyrese (deceased), Antwan, Anthony and Deondre' Whittington. There are also a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, and cousins as well as many friends from both East and West coasts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Estelle and Henry Whittington, brothers Robert, Paul, and Edward Whittington, brother-in-law Russell Tapia, and several aunts and uncles.