Noreen Ann Carley (McGregor)
Surrounded by her family, Noreen passed peacefully on the afternoon of August 28, 2025 at Boundary Trails Health Centre at 85 years of age. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, John, and her children, Michael (Patty), David (Lorna), and Joanne (Rob) as well as grandchildren Lindsay, Sean (Sydney), Luke, Ross, Jackson (Bri), and Tom. She was predeceased by her parents Ernie & Myrle and her brother Perry.
Noreen grew up on the family farm six miles south of Carman. She was active in farm life and the local 4H club and developed a strong love of card games - a favourite McGregor activity that continues to bring the whole family together with an animated game or two. She attended Carman Collegiate and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba. Summers were spent at interesting jobs ranging from working at Minaki Lodge to going to Toronto to work with IBM. While at university, Noreen met and later married John and together they raised their three children in a loving home. After moving about Ontario and Manitoba, they returned to the Carman area where they continued and expanded the family farm tradition. Noreen thrived on the farm and in the community with involvement in the Pomeroy Helping Hands Society making quilts, entering multiple competitions at the fair, being active with fundraising for the Carman Handivan, and being a member of the Carman Garden Club. She saw beauty in each flower and could turn what might initially appear to be disorganization into a harmonious arrangement of shrubs and flowers. Noreen was especially proud of her six grandchildren and used her love of sewing and quilting to make special gifts for each of them - with a perennial favourite being annual Christmas pyjamas. While farm life involved many long hours of equipment seat time, it also involved time with family making memories of both working and playing; camping and canoeing trips to northern Manitoba and motorcycle trips across western Canada and down to California with friends and family. Off-the-farm activity involved painting as well as photography, with the latter being done both for pleasure and while working for Prairie Agri Photo on farm photographs. Everything she touched, from quilts, flowers, painting, and pictures decorated the world.
During retirement, Noreen and John were able to enjoy many trips either together or with family members to Europe, the United States, Australia / New Zealand, and the Caribbean, as well as touring many parts of Canada that spanned from coast to coast. An especially interesting adventure was grabbing the opportunity to teach in Thailand for four months; Noreen jumped in and enjoyed her time in the classroom and being immersed in a different culture.
The Carley family offers their appreciation to the staff of the Boyne Lodge for the care provided to Noreen and also to the staff of Boundary Trails for their compassion and care given to Noreen and family.
A funeral service will be held at Carman United Church on Friday, September 12th at 11:00 am, with a lunch to follow in the church hall. For those who wish to attend, an interment of ashes will take place at the Greenwood Cemetery in Carman on Friday, September 12th at 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Noreen’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba.
Surrounded by her family, Noreen passed peacefully on the afternoon of August 28, 2025 at Boundary Trails Health Centre at 85 years of age. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, John, and her children, Michael (Patty), David (Lorna), and Joanne (Rob) as well as grandchildren Lindsay, Sean (Sydney), Luke, Ross, Jackson (Bri), and Tom. She was predeceased by her parents Ernie & Myrle and her brother Perry.
Noreen grew up on the family farm six miles south of Carman. She was active in farm life and the local 4H club and developed a strong love of card games - a favourite McGregor activity that continues to bring the whole family together with an animated game or two. She attended Carman Collegiate and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba. Summers were spent at interesting jobs ranging from working at Minaki Lodge to going to Toronto to work with IBM. While at university, Noreen met and later married John and together they raised their three children in a loving home. After moving about Ontario and Manitoba, they returned to the Carman area where they continued and expanded the family farm tradition. Noreen thrived on the farm and in the community with involvement in the Pomeroy Helping Hands Society making quilts, entering multiple competitions at the fair, being active with fundraising for the Carman Handivan, and being a member of the Carman Garden Club. She saw beauty in each flower and could turn what might initially appear to be disorganization into a harmonious arrangement of shrubs and flowers. Noreen was especially proud of her six grandchildren and used her love of sewing and quilting to make special gifts for each of them - with a perennial favourite being annual Christmas pyjamas. While farm life involved many long hours of equipment seat time, it also involved time with family making memories of both working and playing; camping and canoeing trips to northern Manitoba and motorcycle trips across western Canada and down to California with friends and family. Off-the-farm activity involved painting as well as photography, with the latter being done both for pleasure and while working for Prairie Agri Photo on farm photographs. Everything she touched, from quilts, flowers, painting, and pictures decorated the world.
During retirement, Noreen and John were able to enjoy many trips either together or with family members to Europe, the United States, Australia / New Zealand, and the Caribbean, as well as touring many parts of Canada that spanned from coast to coast. An especially interesting adventure was grabbing the opportunity to teach in Thailand for four months; Noreen jumped in and enjoyed her time in the classroom and being immersed in a different culture.
The Carley family offers their appreciation to the staff of the Boyne Lodge for the care provided to Noreen and also to the staff of Boundary Trails for their compassion and care given to Noreen and family.
A funeral service will be held at Carman United Church on Friday, September 12th at 11:00 am, with a lunch to follow in the church hall. For those who wish to attend, an interment of ashes will take place at the Greenwood Cemetery in Carman on Friday, September 12th at 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Noreen’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba.