Margaret Ryan Noonan

Margaret Ryan Noonan, born September 17, 1934, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2023.  She attended Christ the King School, graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland, Vermont, and earned a B.A. from Regis College in Boston, Massachusetts.  A natural teacher, she taught elementary school in Garden City, Long Island before moving to Connecticut where later in life she went on to earn a master’s degree in order to return to her vocation.  She joined her sister as a proud member of the Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK) teaching sorority dedicated to children’s charities.  She just loved children, especially her four granddaughters.  If there was a child in sight, they became the instant center of her attention.  A devoted mother to her own five children, she actively supported their pursuits.  She volunteered her time at their schools, served as President of the Westport, Connecticut, PTA, and never missed a concert or a soccer game.  She was a true sports fan; the biggest fan of whatever team her kids or grandkids were involved with — from Little League to college soccer championships for Duke and Clemson.  To the chagrin of her Yankee-loving sons and grandchildren, she never wavered in her support for the Red Sox.  She was an excellent bowler with a silky left-handed delivery, participating in leagues throughout her adult life.  She also enjoyed playing golf, attending the horse races at Saratoga, cows, social bridge with friends, and wouldn’t miss a seniors fitness class at Keowee Key.  A native Vermonter, she loved spending summers at the family’s house on Lake St. Catherine from her teenaged years until her 80’s, traveling from her homes in Connecticut and eventually in South Carolina.  She was a faithful Catholic, praying the rosary regularly when she became unable to attend Sunday Mass.

Peg Noonan was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Charles Ryan, her siblings, Tom Ryan, Charlene Fitzgerald and Martha Fabian, and her daughter, Clare Noonan Bolich.  She is survived by her children, Mary Alma Noonan (Minneapolis, MN), Michael Noonan and his wife Debra Belcher (Greenville, SC), Mark Noonan and his wife Katie (Feffer) Noonan (Toronto, Ont.) and Diane Eichler and her husband David Eichler (Billings, MT), as well as four granddaughters:  Olivia Noonan (Corvallis, OR), Tess Noonan (Palo Alto, CA), Caleigh Noonan and Meghan Noonan (Greenville, SC).

Burial will take place next spring in Rutland, Vermont.  Memorial donations to honor Peg may be made to the SeriousFun Children's Network, 230 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06855 (seriousfun.org).