Mabel M. Nolan

Mabel Nolan was a woman whose life could be summed up in Jesus' own words, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Mabel devoted her life to serving others - family, friends, church, job, and the community. No matter what the occasion, she was always willing to give of herself, and, as a result, she was rewarded with the love and devotion of all whose lives she touched. Mabel's life began on a snowy Christmas Day in 1919, in the Upper Peninsula town of Munising, Michigan. With peacetime following World War I, there was much to celebrate, especially for Joseph and Mary (LaMoureux) LaMouria, who were blessed with the wonderful gift of a beautiful baby girl they named Mabel Marian Louise. Mabel joined her three older brothers, Arthur, Rene, and Lyle. Her father worked in Munising's local paper mill, and her mother was a homemaker, gifted with crocheting and as a seamstress. Mary made beautiful linens, which have become treasured family heirlooms. When Mabel was eight years old, the family moved south to Muskegon. Mabel attended Muskegon Public Schools, where she played violin in the high school orchestra, and worked in the office. She developed her administrative skills to such a degree that she was allowed to graduate early in 1937 so that she could take a job at Bennett Pump as a secretary to one of their top executives. Mabel did everything with excellence and was proud of her work. She was also generous with the money she earned, and was delighted to save enough money to buy her parents a refrigerator, quite a luxury in those days. Her job at Bennett Pump brought her more than a paycheck; it's where she met Martin Nolan, who became the love of her life. Martin Nolan, a handsome young co-worker who walked by her desk every day, did not escape her notice. He, too, noticed the beautiful young secretary, and soon asked her out. They dated only a short time before Martin enlisted in the Army Air Corps to become a pilot, and shipped off to Texas for training. After a long distance courtship, on October 9, 1942, the couple married on the same day Martin graduated from flight school at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio. With World War II now underway, Martin was assigned the dangerous and thankless task of flight instructor, undoubtedly saving many young airmen's lives. The newlyweds eventually settled in Sherman, Texas, where Martin was stationed. Mabel could always vividly recount their first home...a little yellow house which they filled with beautiful furniture. On December 23, 1943, Mabel gave birth to the first of their nine children, Martin J. Nolan II. When the war ended, and Martin's service along with it, they moved back to Michigan. Now the proud parents of two baby boys, the couple bought a dairy farm near Martin's parents in Hesperia. Life on the farm was difficult for Mabel. She cooked, cleaned, did laundry with a scrub board and wringer washer, sewed, canned fruits and vegetables they grew on the farm, and pasteurized the family's milk, all the while supporting her husband who worked in Muskegon during the day, and farmed in the evenings and on weekends. During the farm years, she bore five more children. In 1955, Martin and Mabel sold the farm, bought property in Muskegon, and built a new four-bedroom home, which Mabel loved! Martin began selling life insurance to support their large family, which soon grew to nine children. With Mabel as full-time secretary and office manager, the couple founded the Martin J. Nolan Insurance Agency in 1961, running it out of one of the bedrooms in their home. Thanks to Martin's tenacity and Mabel's ability to organize, attend to details, and provide the personal touch, the business flourished. Full time office work never diminished Mabel's focus on her family. She was an amazing mother, who juggled her children's many activities, and gave each of them the attention and love they needed. She never missed a parent-teacher conference, and rarely ever missed a high school event in which her children participated. She served as Room Mother, volunteered for major school sewing projects, ran the local drive for Mother's March of Dimes, and helped out at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, to name only a few of her charitable and civic contributions. Mabel was also a great cook, and like her own mother, a gifted seamstress. Mabel creatively made stylish clothes without the help of store-purchased patterns. She also loved playing games with her children. She taught them to play card games such as Cribbage, Hearts, and Gin Rummy; she loved playing Monopoly and a spirited game of Yahtzee. When the kids were sick, she'd let them win; but any other time, she'd play to win. Of all the things Mabel did in her life, her proudest accomplishment was raising nine children who she taught to know and love the Lord. She and Martin always felt that education was important, and with a great deal of personal sacrifice, they put all nine children through college; all nine graduated and seven earned graduate degrees. Mabel possessed a powerful faith, and was a devout Catholic all her life. She was a loyal member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, living what she believed and teaching her children to do the same. Mabel and Martin retired in 1983, and moved to Green Valley, Arizona, where they spent most of the next 20 years, returning to Muskegon for the summer months. They loved Arizona weather, made many good friends, and enjoyed their retirement to the fullest. They traveled, entertained friends in their home, and went to the theatre often. Mabel finally had time to enjoy something other than work. She indulged in ceramics as a hobby, and created and nurtured a beautiful flower garden in their back yard. She joined the local Garden Club and served as its secretary for several years. In 2000, they built a new home in Muskegon to be closer to their large family. Martin's death in 2006 was difficult for Mabel. However, she was blessed by the help of her children and their families, making it possible for her to remain in her own home until the day of her death. Surrounded by her loving family, Mabel died Monday evening, January 8, 2007. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are her nine children: Martin (Amy Krause), Patrick (Christine Callendar), Mary Jane Mapes (Bill Wieringa), Thomas, Michael (Jahel Hinch), Richard (Sandy Frein), Robert (Holly Johnson), Nancy Moody (Kevin Moody), and Terry. Her legacy includes 24 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. In addition to Martin, she is preceded in death by her parents and 3 brothers, Arthur, Rene, and Lyle. Services are scheduled for Saturday, January 13, 2007, 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church with Fr. Michael Olson officiating. Visitation is Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Muskegon. Following visitation will be a Rosary Service at 8:30 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association or Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.