

Graveside Interment


Obituary of Noreen C McCarthy
It is with great sadness, but gratefulness for a life richly lived that the family of Noreen Cora McCarthy announce her passing on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. The daughter of Edward S Craig and Josephine A (Wetmore) Craig, Noreen grew up surrounded by friends and family in Milford, working first at the same bakery as her father where she excelled at cake decorating, and then for many years working for Jerry Koven at the Fairvale Department store.
Noreen was a beloved aunt who cared deeply for all her family, especially her eldest nephew Craig Gillespie who was born when she was only a teenager herself and whom she loved like a little brother, along with his sons David and Cory. Always ready with news of family, she kept in touch with all as long as her health lasted. She was the primary caregiver for both her parents and lived with them until their deaths. A stellar organizer and household manager, she took great pride in living independently well into her 90s. She shared her life with pets (Zorro, Rocky, Buffy Joe, Chico, and Twinkles) whom she loved like children. She had a great gift for friendship. Significant friends were Scotty and Cecil, who predeceased her, and with whom she saw much of the world through travel. And most recently and significantly her best friend Elaine Earl who was a great source of comfort to her in the last years of her life and whose care and attention during Noreen’s final year, along with the care of nieces Brenda Breen and Judy MacLean, was invaluable.
All her life she loved classic movies, music, playing bingo, and Bluejays. She loved John Wayne, Elvis, and Hank Snow, her apartment filled with DVDs, clippings, and memorabilia. As a child of five years old, she sold firewood door to door in Milford to earn pocket money for ‘the pictures’. As a young woman, she snuck backstage to meet a beloved singer of hers, Hank Snow, despite the guards trying to stop her. She played baseball as a kid and was proud of being a good ball player. She loved to tell how Walter Pidgeon knew her mother and took her ice skating and dancing. These were stories she regaled family and friends with, with much self-deprecation and obvious enjoyment.
She was kind and generous but brooked no nonsense. Her sense of humour was quick-witted and sharp but rooted in love and affection. She could always be relied upon to tell it like it is and how it should be. She will be so greatly missed. A world without Noreen is hard to imagine.
Noreen was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Josephine Craig; siblings Hilyard Matheson, Gordon Matheson, Edwina Gillespie, Edward S Craig, Jr, Wallace Craig, Walter Craig, and Lorraine Haslett. Noreen is survived by many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Noreen believed in the life to come where she would be reunited with all those she missed, especially her mother. In the same faith, we look forward to the day when we can once again share the fun and laughter that were synonymous with her.
The arrangements are under the care and direction of Castle Funeral Home 309 Lancaster Ave. Saint John, N.B. (506 634 1701). As per Noreen’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held on Thursday July 3, 2025, at Cedar Hill Ext. Cemetery at 2:00pm. Donations to the charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Noreen would be appreciated. Online condolences can be made at www.Castlefh.ca

