Carolyn N. Noonan

Carolyn Nesbeth Spuhler Noonan, 74, of Pekin passed away at 6:53 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Carolyn was born January 7, 1934 in New Orleans, LA to Clifford and Carrie (Ebeling) Spuhler. She married John A. Noonan Jr. on September19, 1959 at the Bethel United Church of Christ in New Orleans, LA. Surviving are: her husband,The Rev.Dr. John A. Noonan Jr. of Pekin; one son, Mark (Diana) Noonan of Edwardsville, IL; two daughters, Kathleen (James) Freed of Peoria and Colleen (Brian Snell) Noonan of Galesburg; two brothers, Clifford (Gloria) Spuhler of Covington, LA and Shelby (Mary Ann) Spuhler of Humble, TX; and a cousin, Ethel Noonan of Pekin. Carolyn was known as "Nana" or "Nan" by her five grandchildren, Maxwell Snell, Maya and Eddie Noonan, A.J. and Carolina Freed. Carolyn was a member of the Community United Church of Christ in Morton, IL. She was a former member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin. She also held memberships in United Churches of Christ in Louisiana, Texas and Missouri before moving to Illinois. Her church life included many activities, among them choir, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and Bible School Teacher.She also led women's groups, retreats, and directed various children's programs. She was a member of PEO, AAUW, National Education Association and the Pekin Coalition for Equality where she helped organize several Martin Lutheran King Day Breakfasts in Pekin. Carolyn was a first grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in District #108 in Pekin. She retired in 1998 and then served for many years as a tutor for students at Jefferson School in Pekin and Irving School in Peoria, as well as many other Pekin schools.