Loretta Nolen

Loretta N. Nolen, age 79, of Philadelphia, passed away on Sunday, April 14th peacefully in her sleep. Loretta “Lori”was born in Philadelphia on July 26th 1944 to William and Mary Scholtz of Philadelphia, PA. Loretta graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School in 1962. She was a musician at that point playing both the piano and accordion. She would play in the Oak Lane basement with her father who played the drums.

Loretta married John J. Nolen, Sr. of Philadelphia and they moved to Northeast Philadelphia where they had three wonderful sons. John Jr., Jeffrey and William. Loretta became involved with the Maternity BVM parish and school where her sons attended and soon became everyones favorite pretzel / juice lady. She was the poster child for soccer moms before mini-vans. The stationwagon was always full with kids going somewhere. Loretta also had a love of animals; dogs, cats, birds, Guinea pigs. There was always a variety of critters around the house.

Loretta’s parents retired to Ocean City, NJ where we were always welcome and where she became a beach lover. Loretta entered the full time work force in the mid eighties as an empty nester. She worked for a small communications company that ended up being purchased by IBM where she became an executive overseeing the installations and training of large computerized phone systems. You can still hear her voice on the message system of Shore Memorial Hospital. Loretta and John moved to Mt. Laurel, NJ where they continued to work until they retired to Ocean City, NJ. Loretta loved the beach. She loved to entertain and there was always someone at the house. Family and friends could stop by or stay over. She loved to have the kids and grand children on the beach. A walk to Aunt Betty’s Ice cream parlor or a Sunday morning surrey ride on the boardwalk was always a memory in the making.

Loretta cared for her mother Mary until her passing in 2012. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. Loretta was predeceased by her husband John J. Nolen Sr., and grandson Ryan Nolen. She is survived by her sister, Maryann Valdala, her sons, John Jr. “Jay”, Jeffrey, William “Bill” and her grandsons Nicholas, Zachary,
Matthew and Michael. That's right-no girls and she would always let you know. Smile!

Family and friends are invited to gather in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 40th and Asbury Ave., Ocean City, NJ on Saturday April 27th from 9 AM to 10 AM.  Her funeral mass will begin 10 AM and interment will be held privately.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society of Ocean City, 1 Shelter Rd., Ocean City NJ 08226

Arrangements by McCafferty Sweeney Slabinski Barnes Funerals and Cremations, John Barnes Supervisor, 215.333.0500