Mary Anne Noren

MARY ANNE NOREN,Age 82 of rural St. Charles, passed away at her home, Friday afternoon, June 20, 2008 after a long battle with declining health.BORN / EARLY YEARSShe was born March 14, 1926, the daughter of Edmond and Cecilia (Bisick) Van Der Zwalm.Mary Anne grew up in St. Charles, IL where her mother kept house for the priest at St. Patrick’s Church and Mary Anne attended St. Patrick’s School. As a young girl, Mary Anne enjoyed spending summers near Reedsburg, Wisconsin where she and her cousins made lifetime memories and eternal connections. MARRIAGE & FAMILYIn the mid forties, she was united in marriage to Raymond Weirich. They made their home in Batavia where they were living when Raymond was killed in an accident in 1962. Following his death, Mary Anne continued to live in Batavia in the home Raymond had built for she and their children.On June 25, 1966, she was united in marriage to Richard K. Noren, a long time family friend who raced stock cars with Raymond. They made their home in Batavia briefly before moving to the present family home in Campton Twp. where they had room to raise children and Saint BernardsMary Anne was employed for a number of years as a switchboard operator for Illinois Bell Telephone Company and later for Howells, Hawley Products and others. She also worked part time at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles where she managed concessions and ushering and in later years at E.M.I. in Lily Lake. In later years, she became secretary to the Campton Township officials. When her husband, Richard, became the Campton Township Road Commissioner, Mary Anne stepped aside as secretary but was soon involved again as the cemetery trustees asked her to serve on their board. She was proud to serve and remained at their request ill health required her to retire. Always outgoing, full of fun and mischief, Mary Anne enjoyed going gambling on the boats. She was devoted to Video Poker and was always a VIP at the boat. At home, she had fun teaching her grandchildren the art of the game. It was only "penny poker" but grandma played for keeps and taught her grandchildren to be genuine competitors. In the solitude of her home, Mary Anne found both peace and comfort as she watched the birds and the deer come to her picture window on the woods. It was there that she returned just days before her death, and there she claimed the eternal promise of her faith.SURVIVORS In addition to her husband, Richard, she is survived by: One son: John (Karen) Weirich of Ocala, FL and One daughter, Cecilia Vermaat of Batavia, IL;Six Grandchildren: Mary Anne (Andy) Zuniga of Fleetwood, PA,Brian (Deanna) Thielk of St. Charles, IL,Raelene Thielk of Geneva, IL,Stephanie (Wayne) Jenkins of Frederich, MD, Amy (Matthew) Rubeck of Sycamore, IL, Christopher Vermaat of Elburn, IL;Seven Great Grandchildren:James, Adriana, Andrew, Brandon, Jinal, Jarin, JoahAnd one on the way!;Siblings: One sister, Stella (Lyle) Pflederer of Elgin, IL;In addition, she leaves several nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives, including one special niece whom Mary Anne loved as a daughter, Mary Lou Maher.PRECEDED Mary Anne is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Raymond, one daughter, Ruth Anne Weirich, and one sister, Margie Koester. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL from 4-8pm. Friends and family will pray the Rosary at 4:30pm and visitation will conclude with a wake service at 8pm.Her funeral mass will be held at St. Gall Church, Main and Shannon Streets, Elburn, IL, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 10:30 am. A brief visitation will be held at the church, prior to mass, from 9:30am until 10:15am. Fr. Karl Ganss will officiate and interment will follow at New Hampshire Cemetery, Rt. 47 near Beith Road, Campton Township. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Mary Anne’s name to benefit St. Gall Church, the Anderson Animal Shelter and other favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the Mary Anne Noren Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through her obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call Conley Funeral Service at 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL from 4-8pm. Friends and family will pray the Rosary at 4:30pm and visitation will conclude with a wake service at 8pm.Her funeral mass will be held at St. Gall Church, Main and Shannon Streets, Elburn, IL, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 10:30 am. A brief visitation will be held at the church, prior to mass, from 9:30am until 10:15am.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Mary Anne’s name to benefit St. Gall Church, the Anderson Animal Shelter and other favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the Mary Anne Noren Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through her obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call Conley Funeral Service at 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.