Margaret Nolan Obituary

Margaret Mary Nolan
Born in Bayport, New York, Margaret passed away peacefully on September 20, 2024, at the age of 82, in Marin County, with family by her side after a battle with cancer.
Margaret is survived by her two children, Michael and Margaret; her grandson, Bradley; her son-in-law, Preston; and her siblings: Patricia, Thomas, John, Ann, Kathleen, and Terese.
Margaret was creative, loved to read and learn, and was a deeply spiritual soul. She was selected by St. Anselm Catholic Church to attend a month-long course in spiritual direction at the Pecos Monastery. There, she earned a Certificate of Accomplishment and went on to volunteer at the Hawaii Benedictine Monastery. Margaret lived in the monastery for six months, where she facilitated retreats and offered spiritual counseling to members of the community.
Professionally, Margaret served as the Coordinator of the Housing Program in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she helped women and children access resources leading to employment and independence. She was also an active member of the Resident Advisory Board for the Marin Housing Authority, serving as Secretary and later as Committee Chair. Margaret was proud to have been chosen to write for the Resident Advisory Board, advocating for housing participants to the Board of Supervisors and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She was particularly passionate about assisting senior citizens in finding assisted housing. Margaret pursued her Paralegal certification at St. Mary's College in Oakland, California, and went on to work for the Social Security Administration's Office of Adjudication and Appeals as a Hearing Reporter until her retirement.
Margaret also cherished her role as the family genealogist, uncovering many fascinating aspects of her family's history, including references that allowed her to trace lineage on her mother's side making her eligible for the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution. She also discovered that the Nolan and Morrissey sides of the family had immigrated from Tipperary and Carlow, Ireland. One of the highlights of her genealogical research was learning that Archbishop John Hughes, said to be the first Archbishop of New York, serving from 1850 until his death in 1864, and responsible for the building of St. Patrick's Cathedral, was a distant relative.
In her later years, Margaret enjoyed exploring her creative side. She crafted ornate journal books and designed digital graphics, which she applied to fabrics, expressing her love of art in new ways. Her love of travel took her on memorable adventures to Ireland, London, Paris, and Italy, where she embraced new experiences. Margaret was cherished by many, and her vibrant spirit, enthusiasm for life, and unwavering belief in others will be profoundly missed by all who knew her.
A Celebration of Life will take place at Valley Memorial Park on September 27, 2024.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret, please visit our floral store.