Noreen Wint completed her 92 year journey through this world on St. Patricks Day Eve, March 16, 2024. And what a trip it was!

Noreen was born on a farm in Dunnamaggin, County Kilkenny in the Republic of Ireland. Her parents, Ned and Nora Egan, raised 12 children on that farm. Noreen was the eleventh child. The Egans were proud Irish patriots. Ned had recently served as an intelligence officer in the War for Irish Independence, and her Uncle Jim gave his life for his country in the Irish Civil War. They lived at a crossroads in a house that was almost 300 years old. The house was once a wayfarers inn, but her parents bought it in 1916. Along with her brothers and sisters, she scampered over the fields, making daisy chains and trying to swim in the little Glory River nearby. Life was simple — they had no electricity or running water, but out in the country, nobody did at the time. Noreen later wrote a book about her life in Ireland, "The Girl from the House of Yellow Rooms." This book was accepted by the Harvard's Shlesinger Library collection on the American immigrant experience, which made Noreen very proud.

She and her sister Peggy had no prospects back then, so they decided to emigrate to London. Her sister Nelly was a nurse during the war, and they planned to stay with her in the city. She stayed almost five years, and she and Peggy saw the world.

In London, she met a US Air Force Lieutenant who would eventually become her husband and the love of her life, Frank Wint.

In 1956 Noreen and her sister emigrated to the United States, living in New York City with their Uncle Martin and his family for almost two years. In New York, Noreen reunited with Frank.

They married, moved to Lancaster PA and settled down as a family, having her sons Gary and Frank Jr., and her daughter Susan. Life went by as her children grew up, but tragedy came when her younger son Frank was diagnosed with cancer at age 4. He lived his life bravely, but died at age 17 1/2. Her beloved husband Frank also died from cancer in 2011. These were terrible times, but one had to go on, and they did. She had six grandchildren; Milo, Nathan, Jack, Erin, Lucas, and Egan.

Noreen lived every day of her life to the fullest, and gave back so much to her community and her family. She worked to improve the world and the lives of others in ways big. and small.

After the death of her son, she and Frank established a fund at Lampeter Strasburg High School to provide a scholarship to two graduating seniors who had overcome challenges and demonstrated strength of character. They also established an annual lecture in Frank Jr's memory at Harvard Medical School to teach doctors from around the world the latest advances in facial reconstructive surgery.

After traveling to Nepal in 1989, Noreen and Frank sponsored their Sherpa Rinji Lama and his wife Smiley to come to America and become citizens. This was a determined effort that took six years. Noreen loved the outdoors, and she and Frank worked with the Nature Conservancy to protect Lancaster County's natural beauty. They secured conservation easements and land donations, including a privately owned parcel of land on Tucquan Creek, ensuring public access for future generations for a continuous trail all the way to the Susquehanna River. She also volunteered at the inpatient mental health department at Lancaster General Hospital and helped establish the first hospice care center in Lancaster.

Noreen was force of nature, an eternally optimist and positive force who worked tirelessly to support her friends and family. She was a friend to all, from all walks of life, who looked for and found good in everyone. She was the rock of her family, a devoted wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and friend. She was always kind and caring, intelligent and self-taught. She was an amazing gardener — photos of her gardens appeared in national magazines and Hallmark cards and calendars. She had an adventurous spirit and loved the outdoors. She and Frank travelled the world, from Belize to Nepal. They climbed Mount Washington five times, and they spent many days fly fishing the waters of Lancaster and Colorado.

Her most cherished roles were wife, mother, and grandmother. She gave her unhesitating support to the hopes and dreams of her family and friends, and her one consistent piece of advice was "Follow your Heart." The world was brightened by her presence for 92 years, and is diminished by her passing.

Noreen was preceded in death by her mother Nora Egan, her father Ned Egan; her sisters Mary, Brigid, Nelly, Peggy, and Bernadette; her brothers Jack, James, Alec, Patrick, and Dennis; her son Frank, and her husband Frank. She is survived by her daughter Susan, her son Gary and his wife Alice, her brother Ned, her grandchildren Nathan, Milo, Jack, Erin, Lucas, and Egan; and Rinji and Smiley Lama.

All are invited to a celebration of her life at 11 am on March 30, 2024 at the Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street PA 17584. There will be an opportunity to share a thought or words about Noreen. Click on link below to watch the service via livestream. Please make donations in Noreen's memory to Collier Hospice, 3210 Lutheran Parkway, Wheat Rodge, CO 80033 or to the Colorado Talking Book Library, 180 Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO 80226.