In memory of Norene (Updated 12/12)

Our extended family is saddened by the passing of Norene, sister of Dolores and aunt to Julie, Doug and Cathy.

Noreen passed away Nov. 27 at Comanche County Medical Center. Norene lived in Comanche, Texas, with her husband, Alan, an Episcopal minister. A funeral service took place Dec. 2 at St. Matthew's Church in Comanche, led by Bishop Jack Leo Iker of the Diocese of Fort Worth.

Read Norene's obituary here.

Alan and Norene at home, February 2015

Two of Norene and Alan's children - Susan and Lisa - live in Comanche, as do their grandsons, Kenan and Noah - although Kenan is in the U.S. Army and currently training at Fort Gordon, Ga. Their daughter Carol lives in Albuquerque and their son, Michael, in Dallas.

Dolores and Hugh, seen here with Alan, traveled to Texas along with Julie and Doug for the services.

Hugh writes: "St. Mathew’s is one of the churches that Alan served when he first came to Comanche. Norene and Alan lived in the nearby rectory before he semi-retired and they bought their house. In addition to the family, the church was filled with many of Norene and Alan’s friends from Comanche and a few from his parish in Eastland. Others from Eastland and old friends from Dallas showed up at the entombment.

"The bishop told us that while he conducts funeral services for priests, he rarely does so for the wives of priests. He said that Norene was special because he had known her a long time and appreciated her support to Alan and the Diocese.

"Following the service, the women of St. Matthew’s provided an extensive luncheon meal served in the adjoining parish hall. The entombment was a few hours later and many miles away at the Bishop Mason Mausoleum, on the grounds of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Flower Mound, Texas. The officiant for the committal was the current rector of St. Andrew’s in Farmers Branch -- the parish that Norene and Alan belonged to before he entered the priesthood. He told us he had been in seminary with Alan and was an old friend of both of them.

"Afterward we took some family photos. One is of Hugh and Dolores with Alan, and another is a group photo of the next generations of the family."

Younger-generation relatives of Norene. Front row: nephew Doug; son Michael; niece Julie; son-in-law Michael; grandson Noah. Back row: daughter Carol; girlfriend of grandson Kenan; daughter Lisa; daughter Susan and her husband, Michael.