Question on References

[honeychile]

I need to ask a question on a "private" site.

I worked for a family business for most of my working life, and eventually was a partner in this business until it was dissolved last year.

I'm applying for a job, and the CEO seemed to really like me. He asked me to also interview with the woman who's in charge of the office. In turn, she's asking me for references from several years from now, from hospices, from hospitals, from companies I worked with here in Chicago. I've worked for two companies here, one a good experience, the other not so good.

I realize that the hiring process is a bit different when one works for a family business, but I've never been asked for more than two references before, and have already provided four. Is this strange behavior, or is this normal? Help!