Noreen K Simpson

Noreen Simpson was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on April 21, 1940, the fifth of six children to John and Rose Flynn. She married John Simpson, PhD. in 1963 and raised three children, Leslie, Caitlin and John Robert in Bernardsville, New Jersey. Their life was filled with nature, family vacations, trips to New York City to see museums and Broadway shows, and lively conversations. Nieces and nephews remember summer holidays in New Jersey with the cousins. In the early 1990s, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland and lived in her dream home, a rowhouse in Bolton Hill, surrounded by interesting people who are family friends to this day.

She was a life-long learner pursuing advanced education throughout her life. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing in 1986 from Rutgers University and worked as an office manager in a doctor’s office and then in a real estate office. She loved reading, everything from books and poetry to political commentary, and earned a teacher certification in elementary education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 1993. For almost 20 years, she was a language arts teacher in the Catholic school system in Baltimore City. She loved teaching English composition and literature to middle schoolers. Her favorite book was To Kill a Mockingbird, and she insisted that all of her students read and discuss it with her.

She loved her four grandchildren, Callum, Aidan, Riley and Fiona. They visited her for ‘Baltimore weekends’ from an early age with memories of duck pin bowling, Atwater’s restaurant, museums and movies. She was so proud of them as they grew up and went off to college, and she was always engaged in their lives.

Friends and family will forever remember Noreen’s love of family, people and conversation, interest in politics and social justice, her energy and curiosity, and her beautiful homes filled with artwork, music, antiques and family photos. She loved to travel and see the world, its cultures and people. A favorite trip was a safari to Africa where she saw in person her favorite animal, the giraffe.

She is survived by her three children, Leslie Simpson, Caitlin Simpson and John Simpson and four grandchildren, Aidan Simpson, Riley Simpson, Callum Vicary and Fiona Vicary as well as her brother Robert Flynn and sister Virginia Hewitson. Her finest accomplishments were being a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, educator and friend.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24th at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church (chapel on the campus) at 11 am. Family to receive at 10:30 am. Lunch will follow at the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Maryland. Please RSVP to John Simpson at simpsonjojo2@gmail.com.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the National Aphasia Association.