Noreen Janet Stewart

Noreen Stewart

January 13, 1942—July 29, 2023.

Long-time Parker music educator, Noreen Stewart, 81, died at her home in Parker on July 29, 2023, with her son, Scott, by her side.

Noreen Janet Stewart, née Schafer, was born January 13, 1942, in Buffalo, New York, to Walter and Norma Irene (Reinhart) Schafer.

Showing musical talent early in life, Noreen began singing publicly when she was only 4 years old and as a young girl often sang on WBEN Radio in Buffalo on the Saturday Children's Hour program. She developed into a coloratura soprano and at only 15 years old Noreen made her debut as a concert soloist with the Buffalo Civic Orchestra. She performed on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour national television program in New York City on February 1, 1959, where she sang the aria “Una Voca Poco Fa” from the Rossini opera, “The Barber of Seville.”

Noreen graduated from Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga, New York, in 1959 where she had appeared as the lead character in numerous school musicals and operettas. Noreen studied vocal music and music education at the State University of New York at Fredonia where, in her freshman year, she sang the title role of Sister Angelica in the Puccini opera of the same name. Throughout her time at SUNY-Fredonia Noreen sang with several musical choruses and was featured in numerous operas. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 1964. In 1967 she studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and earned a Master of Music degree from SUNY-Fredonia in 1972.

Following the end of her first marriage Noreen moved to Parker with her son, Scott, in August 1972 to begin teaching music for the Parker Unified School District. Shortly after arriving in Parker, she met W. David Stewart, they married in 1973 and spent 39 loving years together until David’s death in 2012.

“Mrs. Stewart” taught music at Le Pera Elementary School for many years, then at Wallace Elementary School, and for a while she directed the Parker High School Chorus. Noreen shared her great love of music with her students and the wider community through numerous school productions and concerts each school year until her retirement in May 2003. She is fondly remembered by the countless students she taught throughout her long career as a music educator.

When asked how she chose Parker Noreen said she pulled out a map of Arizona “because unlike Buffalo it didn’t snow,” closed her eyes, put her finger down on the map and “looked for the smallest town that looked big enough to have people.” Moving to Parker was a bit of an adjustment for a girl born and raised in Buffalo. She learned the usual desert lessons (swim fins and crayons melt when left in the car) and had some unusual desert experiences. While driving to Le Pera one day a roadrunner darted across the road in front of her, as it reached the opposite shoulder it tripped and tumbled down the other side of the road. Assuming this was normal roadrunner behavior she shared the story with her husband David who promptly burst out in laughter. Every few years David would give Noreen a roadrunner knick-knack and the whole family would laugh together.

In addition to her great love for her family and music, Noreen also loved animals—horses, Irish Setters, and especially Golden Retrievers. For many years Noreen was involved with Golden Retriever rescue and always had a house filled with rescued four-footed friends.

She is survived by her son Scott Meléndez-Stewart of Washington, D.C.; her brother Walter (Kathy) Schafer of The Villages, Florida; nieces Amy (Chris) Erickson and family of Cary, North Carolina, and Amanda (Chad) Sherin and family of Apex, North Carolina; a sister-in-law, Lavonne (Michael) Stark of Fort Worth, Texas; and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W. David Stewart; an infant daughter Stewart; her parents; a beloved step-mother, Blanche Schafer Herkey, née LeGro, and her husband George Herkey; and her step-father, Ben Hodde.

Noreen was a kind, loving, and caring person who left lasting memories and will be deeply missed by those who were fortunate to have known her.

No memorial service or funeral is planned. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in her name be sent to the Animal Relief Fund Inc. (ARF Inc.) 309 W 7th ST, Parker, AZ, 85344, or to River Valley Cares Foundation (River Valley HH & Hospice in Parker).