Anona “Noni” Mary Meaney, 92 years old, died peacefully in her apartment at Highland Springs, in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, June 29, 2019. She was loved by her caretakers who adored her loving spirit and playful attitude.
Noni was born into a family with three brothers and was much happier keeping up with them than trying to learn how to sew and cook from her mother. She was outgoing and smart and was advanced two grades in her elementary grades, which eventually made her two years younger than her high school peers. Upon high school graduation, she attended the Texas School of Mines (now the University of Texas at El Paso) majoring in Radio Broadcast and Journalism and pledged the ZTA sorority. After several attempts to pass a required foreign language course, she ended her college studies and entered the working world with the telephone company and retired after a long career. She rose through the ranks beginning as an operator and rising to a mid-management job in sales when she and her husband lived in Massachusetts.
Noni met John Patrick (Pat) at a dance and they were happily married for over 67 years. They loved to socialize and have fun whether to simply play cards with another couple; travel with friends, family, or by themselves; or participate in a multitude of costume parties. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, Japan and China.
Throughout her life, whenever she saw a job that needed doing, she would be the first to organize and lead activities that would better the lives of those in need. As one of the first residents of Highland Springs she helped to establish a resident chorus, where she participated for many years. She also was active with the Drama Club, led chair exercises, and helped with the early communications to residents.
Noni loved keeping up with her three grandchildren as often as she could and loved hearing about her two great grandchildren. She loved to watch them play, and swim, and just be boys. She taught all those around her through her quiet example to be kind and generous, how to be humble yet maintain a twinkle in her eyes to have fun, and to be appreciative of her life with her family, friends, and caretakers who surrounded her. Her family will miss her spirit but are strengthened in the knowledge that she is at peace with her beloved husband, Pat, in the kingdom of Heaven with her savior Jesus Christ.
Anona is survived by her only child, Anona Marie Andrews and her husband, William N. Andrews; their children, David N. Andrews with his wife, Elizabeth (Liz); and Steven P. Andrews with his wife Chelsea and their children Asher M and Lincoln D. Her spouse, John Patrick Meaney, pre-deceased her in January 2019; as well as her oldest grandson, Michael W. in 2013.
Services for Anona Mary Meaney will be held at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home on Friday July 5, 2019 from 2 pm to 4 pm. The family will have a private committal service at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.
