Noreen Anna Stevenson (Barry) was born to Nora Barry and David Barry in NY, NY on December 28, 1946.  Noreen was their first, and only child.  She grew up with her mother in an apartment in Yorkville and spent her weekends at her grandmother's apartment surrounded by her cousins.  Close in age to two of those cousins, Rosella and Peggy, they were known family mischief makers and life-long best friends.

Noreen attended the local catholic elementary school and then went on to Cathedral High School.  After graduating she joined, what was then, the New York Telephone where she worked until her retirement in the 1990s.  During that time she celebrated the birth of her daughter Jennifer in 1973, with her first husband.   She married Charles Stevenson in 1983 and the family enthusiastically welcomed the birth of Matthew Stevenson in 1985.

After her retirement, she worked at Visitation School, where Matt was a current student.  She was the 'security guard'.  Her duties included making sure the door was locked, counting the kid's communion envelopes and marking kids late.  It must be a coincidence that during her tenure in this role, no student was ever marked late.

While keeping Visitation safe, Noreen decided to go back to school.  A life-long learner who always loved children she enrolled in Lehman College and received her associates degree in early childhood education from Lehman College.  This began her second career as an early childhood educator at a local daycare, which she adored.  She left there in 2009 when her granddaughter Norah was born, to be a full-time 'Nana'.   She helped, in every way, to raise Norah and she was a loving, joyful and caring presence in her life.

Norah wasn't the only person who benefitted from Noreen's deeply caring nature.  Noreen always looked for ways to make those around her feel seen and understood.  She would stop everything to listen and help -- for her children, their friends and any other person who was lucky enough to have her in their life.

Beyond her care for the people in her life, Noreen loved every animal she met, especially dogs.  She was a wonderful dog mother to Chip and Smokey and dog grandmother to Winston.  She'd stop and pet any dog that would let her and donated to all the pet charities, evidenced by how all the cards she sent were 'free gifts' from those charities.

Noreen died at 77 on July 2, 2024, surrounded by the love of her children and husband.  She is survived by her husband Charles Stevenson; daughter Jennifer and her child Norah; son Matthew and his wife Santina.

To honor her love of animals, if you'd like to donate in her name, please consider doing so to North Shore Animal League or donate directly to your local animal shelter.