Bernadette Marie Noonan

Bernadette Marie Noonan, 84, currently residing in Redding, CT, longtime resident of Huntington & Mt. Sinai NY, passed peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2024. She was the loving wife of Richard J. Noonan (Dick). 

Bernadette was born on February 13, 1940 and raised in Woodhaven, Queens; daughter of the late James and Margaret (Remas) Carney. She attended Catholic school from 1st grade through college (St. Thomas the Apostle grammar school and Our Lady of Wisdom High School) and became the first in her family to graduate with a Bachelors in Education (from St. Johns University). Bernadette met her husband, Dick in the Ice Cream parlor on Woodhaven Blvd (Pops). Bernadette and Dick celebrated their 62nd anniversary on August 18th, the day before she passed.

After they were married, they had four children together whom they raised in Huntington, NY (which ultimately kept everyone busy). Eventually when the children were out of the house, Bernadette and Dick moved further east to a gated community (The Ranches) in Mt. Sinai.  

Mom and Dad loved to vacation. During the early years, it was in Catskill Mountains at Police Camp with the family, followed by trips around the country from Cape Cod, Disney, Big Moose Lake and California. In the mid 1970’s, they would take the family to the Woodloch Pines resort in the Poconos mountains, where the family still vacations with the grandchildren 50+ years later. In the retirement years, there were a number of cruises taken throughout the world. No place, however, was more special to Mom, Dad and the whole family than Woodloch. Mom frequently reminisced about sitting on the porch of her room watching the sunset over the lake, playing Bingo in the North Lodge, and of course enjoying a side of crenshaw melon (the Cadillac of melons as she said) in the dining room. Woodloch was their home away from home!  Even as Mom and Dad’s health was starting to decline, nothing made them more happy than a visit to Woodloch Pines or a conversation about all of the happy memories made while there.

Mom was so proud of all of her children, but she could listen to stories of her grandchildren all day long. She loved hearing about the classes they were taking and she was always the first to cheer them on during their successes. Mom enjoyed retelling the stories, which always got better with time! As each of the grandkids came along, mom would shower them with fun and educational books, games and toys. As the grandkids grew older, “grandma” would take an active role in helping their education and she was proud to present each kid with research on the best colleges to review (which always included a copy of the US News and World report of colleges, including Grandma’s notes for the best fit). Mom was not a fan of computers or the latest technologies out there, however nobody would dare take her kindle away! Mom was always exhausted hearing about the sports schedules that her grandkids would follow but loved to listen about their successes and defeats. Mom and dad were so excited that her oldest grandson, JP, was recently engaged to be married to a girl he met in college (Cleo Filis). She enjoyed hearing about all of the preparations for the wedding and the words "Its about time" may have been whispered.

Mom loved to read. She would read the Newsday every morning from cover to cover at the kitchen table. She would cut articles out for family members that she knew they would appreciate reading and put them in an envelope along with a note on how she came upon the story. She would read the weather report for every state where a family member lived and comment about how hot, cold, rain soaked or snowy it may have been. She would be the first to call and say I see that bad weather hit or warn us to be prepared for something about to hit. “Gas the car up, get some batteries and have milk and bread on hand.” Those words will forever be embedded in our heads for the rest of our lives. 

Without exception, Mom will always be remembered as the caring mother, adoring Grandmother and dear friend. Mom’s facial expressions said it all, her sense of humor and wit was something that she maintained with family as well as the staff of the hospitals and assisted living and nursing care facilities up to her last day with us. 

Bernadette is survived by her husband of 62 years, Richard J. Noonan "Dick", as well as their four children: Kevin Noonan (Jennifer); Doreen O’Hara (Brian); Geraldine Noonan and Veronica Zoberbier (Dan).  Bernadette Noonan is also survived by her adoring grandchildren (Erin Noonan, JP, Meaghan and Sean O’Hara, Ryan Dinkelmeyer and Grace Zoberbier), beloved nieces and nephews (Jeannie Gay, Greg Weber, Denise Pearson, Neil Weber and Monica McDonald) and best friend since childhood Joan Lohe (Grant).

In addition to her parents, Bernadette was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Weber and her grandson, Kevin Noonan Jr. 

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. A funeral prayer service will be offered at 2:00 PM. Interment will take place privately.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested the contributions in Bernadette's memory may be made to the Kevin Noonan Jr. Foundation – http://www.kevinnoonanjrfoundation.org.