Lois Schrider Noonan

04/10/1936 - 08/09/2025

It is with both sadness and gratitude for a life well lived that we announce the passing of our beloved mother Lois Schrider Noonan, age 89, on Saturday, August 9, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family. Lois died peacefully of natural causes, leaving behind a legacy of commitment, grace, and generosity.

Born on April 10, 1936, in Washington, DC, Lois grew up with her sisters Barbara, Karen and brother Eric in Silver Spring, MD. Lois attended Holy Names Academy, and in her senior year, along with her friend Mary Bea, went on a blind date and met the love of her life, Barry J. Noonan. Together, they shared 66 remarkable years of marriage. Their life together was filled with adventure, laughter, devotion, and countless shared memories - a true testament of their partnership and love.

Lois obtained her bachelor's degree from St. Louis University in psychology. She moved back to the DC area where she began to work on Capitol Hill. As she and Barry began their family Lois worked in the home, however after child #6, she knew it was time to "get back out there". She began working for Montgomery County Public Schools at Fairland Elementary and then Springbrook High School. She loved the children and her colleagues. She retired from MCPS in 1995.

Barry and Lois bought a piece of property on the Eastern Shore (Kent Island) and built the house of their dreams. For 30 years, they grew their life there. They met their second family … Steve and Sheilah Ruppert … who loved Mom and Dad as we did. No matter when we visited, our parents never got tired of looking out over the water to watch the sunset. The phrase in the house was "Sunset alert … sunset alert". That never got old for them.

A gifted and passionate master gardener, Lois filled her home and yard with vibrant blooms and lush greenery, cultivating beauty with the same care and attention she gave to her family and friends. Her kitchen was a place of warmth and comfort, where her remarkable cooking brought people together. Every meal reflected her heritage, skill, and the "old-world" touch that made her dishes unforgettable. She met a great group of women in the Queen Anne's County Garden Club and Book Club with whom she developed long-time relationships.

Her adventurous spirit carried Lois and Barry throughout the US and around the world. In their 80's during one trip to Ecuador, they went ziplining through the rainforest! One of the trip members said to Mom, "I want to be just like you when I grow up." which was a sentiment of so many. Mom was a master at getting to know a person and was given the nickname the "The Question Lady" within the family. Her skill at drawing out information, regardless of the person, gave those who knew her pause for thought: Was she an undercover agent or a spy?

A steadfast presence in the lives of her beloved children—Brigid, Michael (Heather), and Timothy (Donna)— her wisdom and love will continue to guide them. She was a proud grandmother to Keira and Claire.

She was a mom to so many and welcomed them into her home, whether at Tamarack Road or on Kent Island. Their door was always open.

To all who knew her, Lois was a source of kindness, strength, and joy. She shared her time generously, listened with patience, and carried herself with quiet elegance. She leaves behind a legacy of love, beauty, and the values she lived by every day.

She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in every garden she inspired, every recipe passed down, and every heart she touched. Lois is predeceased by many, but particularly her twin sons Matthew and Mark and her beloved Barry. She leaves behind her beloved sister Barbara and her daughter Julie, children (Brigid, Michael, Erin and Timothy), grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Queen Anne's County Garden Club; the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program, amp;utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_google_SL&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1707986387&gbraid=0AAAAAD8nX1qAHBt-iuMW0X1vcYDGe-1C7&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh-7Yg9-CjwMVpUhHAR1HwQqzEAAYASABEgLWQvD_BwE"{!W2GT}Alzheimer's Association or the La Leche League International.

A Celebration of Life for Lois and Barry will take place on Saturday, October 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Asbury United Methodist Church Event Hall, 78 Church Road, Arnold, MD 21012.