Alumnae Spotlight: Noreen O’Brien Beardmore '79
As stories continue to surface about our alumnae who are doing amazing, life-changing and heartfelt work across the globe, we are introducing this feature to tell valuable stories about women who continue to live out the attributes of a "Character of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate" long after they have left the Academy.
A few years ago, a group of faculty, staff, CSJs and Associates worked together to carefully select the words to describe the desired outcome of a Saint Joseph Academy graduate. The result was a philosophy statement called the "Character of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate," which reads "In the tradition of the Congregation of St. Joseph, the graduate of Saint Joseph Academy is a woman who lives Unifying Love through Empathetic Justice, Service to the Dear Neighbor without Distinction, demonstrating Personal Integrity and Emerging Wisdom."
Below is the story of Noreen O’Brien Beardmore '79, who lived a humble life dedicated to serving and loving her family and community and made good things happen for others.
Noreen was the oldest daughter whose father hailed from Ireland, her mother was from Canada. The family prayed the rosary every night and never missed Sunday Mass. Not having other family members to rely on in this country, her parents felt it was important to reach out and choose others as their adoptive family. It became a mission of the O’Brien household to improve and enrich the lives of those around them.
In 1979, as her senior year was drawing to a close, Noreen, who was elected class president, was asked to select the class gift. Since there was so little money in the class fund, Noreen decided to host a dance fundraiser at the Irish American Club, where seniors from all area high schools attended. She turned the $300 class treasury into $3,000, which created two scholarships and a badly needed scoreboard to be purchased on behalf of the Class of 1979.
After high school, Noreen pursued nursing at Duquesne University. There, she was awarded the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship Program for Women in Global Leadership. While a nurse in public health, Noreen met her husband of 30 years, Michael Beardmore, a doctor. They raised eight children who attended Catholic schools in Lafayette, Indiana. She was tireless, staying up late with her teenagers after putting the babies and toddlers to bed. Noreen was committed to also helping her community. Whether in the library, cafeteria or on a field trip, Noreen was connected to so many people that she widened the school community.
Noreen’s prayer life inspired others. She scheduled time every day for prayer, and the family always prayed before meals. Thanking God and having God in your daily life is what Noreen always emphasized with her children. Among her group of friends who attended daily Mass, Noreen started a mom’s group called "What would Mary do?" Her life of faith helped others get closer to God and each other.
In May, Noreen was awarded the "He Leads, I Follow" award from St. Boniface School for the goodness of humanity she has shown to so many people. "The words attributed to St. Patrick are what she lived and this was her great gift to me and all her friends: 'Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.' This is why she radiates joy," stated retired Father Tim Alkire of St. Boniface Church, Lafayette, Indiana.
In October 2019, Noreen returned to Saint Joseph Academy to attend Grand Reunion, visiting the renovated campus and catching up with friends. A highlight was Noreen attending Mass on Sunday and getting "to hang out with Sr. Patricia Finn." Noreen was delighted that the former principal, now 90, could remember things better than she could. She visited her parents in Cleveland before returning to Lafayette, and then texted Maureen Fallon Adler '79 after the weekend, "I feel like the most blessed girl in the world." Three months later, Noreen called Maureen to tell her she had late stage four colon cancer.
Noreen began chemotherapy and experimental treatments, as well as a weekly Zoom rosary with friends and family from Cleveland, Indiana, other parts of the United States and Ireland. Noreen began each session asking who needs prayers. In June, she shared, “I know that right now we are all praying for a miracle for me. I have come to realize that God has blessed me with so many miracles throughout my life. Some miracles I didn’t even know they happened, but they did. God grants us all unrecognizable miracles. We should all be grateful for this." Noreen died on June 13, 2021.
As classmate and friend Margaret Gill Kearney '79 describes Noreen as "one of the most selfless people who always looked for the good in things."
Mary Jordan '79, a classmate who spent a lot of time with Noreen at the West Side Irish American Club, said "her magic was the twinkle in her eye, the joke she told or song she sang when things got boring. Noreen was also serious, hardworking and prayerful. She loved her family and everyone loved her because she made them feel like family."
An endowed memorial scholarship has been started in Noreen’s name for students at Saint Joseph Academy who help others, live humbly and serve the dear neighbor. Click here to donate. (Please note "Noreen O'Brien Beardmore Memorial Scholarship" in the comment box at the end of the donation form.)
