Nora joined the Fortress staff with years of early childhood experience, including in-home childcare, raising her own children as well as her niece and nephew, as a nanny, and in licensed child care centers. Volunteering in her church’s infant/toddler ministry is one of her favorite past times! She continues to maintain relationships with the families she has served over the years and considers them all part of her extended family. Nora says, “I know that God has prepared me from those jobs to be at Fortress. Importantly, Fortress is a faith- based center and I want to work where I am needed the most and I know God has led me to Fortress.” Nora considers early childhood education her life’s work. “I enjoy the way the little ones learn and have fun,” she says.

Nora has known that God was present in her life since the age of 3. “I was prepared when in 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was not afraid but knew and felt Gods hand was with me to heal me and face this new journey of cancer so I could continue to care for His children and do His work. At the same time, my sister adopted a 6 month old baby boy and later a baby girl. I I then had another life event - the journey of divorce after 32 years. Little did I know that God was preparing me to care for these babies who are part of our small family. They are my nephew Ethan who is 8 yrs old and autistic and loves Pokémon, and and my niece Desiree who is 7 yrs old and loves to do crafts and draw like me! They are my babies and I’m their Nana and I don’t know where my life would be without them.”

Nora has three grown children: two sons, Alex, Israel, and daughter Elissa who is married to Luis. As of yet, Nora has no grandchildren but is waiting patiently for God to answer her prayers. “They like to travel the world,” she says. “They assure me maybe one more year of traveling and the babies will come. God willing.”

Nora is a deeply faithful Christian and believes in all of God’s promises. “My Bible verses that I take to heart when I had the Two Journeys of my Life are: ‘Remember your Journey that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.’ (Micah 6:5) and ‘Trust in me in times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me Glory.’ (Psalm 50:15 3)”.