Maryellen Noonan

Maryellen was the daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Scanlon) Noonan of Wethersfield. She was born and raised in Wethersfield where she grew up nurturing her dreams to have a family and become a teacher. Maryellen was a graduate of South Catholic High School and earned degrees from Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut. She was free-spirited and adventurous as a young woman and traveled to Europe between her junior and senior years of college. Upon graduating from college, she began her first teaching assignment accepting a position with the Newington Public Schools. Married soon after, she and Pat ventured abroad where Maryellen taught at St. John’s English Speaking School in Waterloo, Belgium, and Pat worked for an International Insurance Company in Brussels. On the weekends, they packed up their little Volkswagen beetle, and with maps and tour books in hand, drove off to explore magnificent European cities and the beautiful historic countryside.

Maryellen and Pat returned home to Wethersfield preparing for their first child as they began their family. And soon, Maryellen returned to teaching in Newington. She was passionate about teaching and learning. She enthusiastically embraced every new opportunity to grow as an educator, while always remaining focused on what was best for her students. Beyond her classroom, she was devoted to the support of new teachers who were beginning their careers. Working for the State Department of Education, she trained mentors and cooperating teachers to guide the next generation of classroom teachers. Yet, her pride and joy were the students she shared her classroom with each day. She was devoted to them. She believed in them and delighted in their successes. Maryellen loved teaching from the moment she stepped into her very first classroom.

Maryellen was grateful for all the blessings in her life; faith in God, family and friends. Maryellen loved the time she spent gathering together with her precious family at their home in Wethersfield and at the beach house in Wellfleet celebrating birthdays and holidays together as she and Pat watched their children grow. Maryellen adored them and encouraged each of her children to follow their own individual dreams. She reveled in their accomplishments. She treasured the memories of family trips to Florida, Arizona, Ireland, Italy and Bermuda. She loved a quiet walk along the beach with her beloved husband and life-long best friend, Pat, as well as the excitement of time they enjoyed in NYC visiting their sons. Yet, most dear to her heart was the joyful commotion in the kitchen preparing a family dinner and then a cozy gathering around the fireplace together.

Maryellen took great pleasure in dinner parties with special friends, meeting her cousins at the Irish Club, and book club nights filled with lively discussions, laughter, and friendship with an amazing group of women. Maryellen also looked forward to early morning coffee talk and gathering around a dear friend's dining room table to share and often laugh at all that was happening in their lives. She felt blessed by the people in her life.

Over the years, family became dearer and special friends grew closer and became family. And with the joy of those held close there was also the sorrow of the passing of her dearest friend, Joyce Gibbons, almost four years ago. Maryellen missed Joyce’s sage advice, and the laughter they shared, but mostly her true friendship.

With her devoted husband, Maryellen leaves to mourn her passing her sons and daughter whom she cherished with all her heart: Patrick DeFrancesco of Manhattan, NY, Marissa Kach and her husband Dustin of Glastonbury, CT, Thomas DeFrancesco and his partner Jeffrey Quitmeyer of Manhattan, NY and Daniel DeFrancesco of Rocky Hill, CT. And she leaves her dearest granddaughter, Katherine Kach.

Maryellen is survived by her brother Bruce Noonan and his wife Pamela of Miami, Florida and her brother-in-law Nicholas DeFrancesco and his wife Trish of Newington, CT.

She also leaves her beloved cousins and most dear and treasured friends.

Maryellen was a parishioner at Corpus Christi Church throughout her childhood until recent years when she became a member of the Church of the Incarnation.

The family thanks, Father Moran, Sister Betty, Toni Munoz and all those who gathered for daily Mass every morning in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for their caring, support and prayers throughout this difficult time.

Maryellen’s family lovingly thanks all those devoted family members and friends who prayed for her during her illness and surrounded her with love and encouragement. And we extend our heart-felt thanks to dear friends Patty Kearney, Kate Sloan, Carol Clark, Jean and Dan Clifford, Midge Mongillo and Beth Sticca for being with us every step of the way.

The family thanks Dr. Carol Petruff, Dr. Susan Rabinowe, Lynn Sperini , Bonnie Zebrowski (St. Francis Hospital) and Dr. Randy Luciano (Yale New Haven Hospital) for their care, compassion, kindness and dedication beyond measure.

Family and friends are invited to gather to share memories of Maryellen and offer prayers on December 12, 2017 from 4 -7 o’clock PM, at D’Esopo’s Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield on December 13, 2017 at 10:00am.

There will be a private burial.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038.