Noreen Theresa Borter

After a short illness, Noreen Borter passed away in Waco, Texas on January 29, 2024 at the age of 71. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by a loving family, her husband, Robert; three sons, Erik, Neal (Jenny), and Philip (Hirono); sister, Carol Warner; two brothers, Terrance and Hugh Lafferty; along with sixteen grandchildren. Noreen was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Reichardt, and her daughter, Erica Vernam.

Noreen was born in Detroit and grew up in the area. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and even before graduation started a varied business career by first working while still in high school for Control Data Corporation. She later worked as a data analyst & test driver at GM’s proving ground in Milford Michigan before starting a family. Later in her career, she worked for a number of Catholic charities and non-profits usually in the capacity of an executive secretary or office manager. Noreen had a life full of love and devotion to her family and she was especially proud of homeschooling her youngest two sons and three grandchildren.

She loved her Catholic faith and had a particular devotion to Our Lady. She was a Benedictine oblate at Mary Mother Church Abbey in Richmond, Virginia and worked many years as the administrative assistant to the Abbot.

Noreen loved to travel particularly to the ocean and one of her favorite places was the Outer Banks in North Carolina where the family would often gather for vacations.

She loved celebrating holidays, especially Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and birthdays. She was a wonderful cook. There didn’t seem to be a cuisine she couldn’t handle and she would be at her happiest when working all day on a wonderful meal for her family.

Noreen was always upbeat with a wonderful smile. She only had a kind word for others and loved meeting people. She had a real gift for making friends and so often knew just the right words to put people at ease. Her presence will be dearly missed by friends and family alike; the Lord called her home for whatever his reason, and we are the poorer for it.