Noreen K. Slater

Noreen K Slater, beloved mother to 1 child, 3 step-children, and 1 son-in-law, 80 years young, of Hamden, CT passed away in New Haven, CT on September 5, 2024, surrounded by her family, leaving a void in the world which can never be filled. Noreen or “Spiff” as her daughter affectionately called her, was born in New Haven in 1943 to Michael J Kelly and Nora B Kelly. She was the middle child and the only girl. Noreen attended St. Mary’s High School and was a very active member of St. Mary’s Church and CYO group. While in school, Noreen worked in St. Raphael’s Hospital as a nurse’s aid in order to pay her school tuition. After graduating from high school, she completed 2 years of nursing school at St. Raphael’s School of Nursing and then went to work at CMS/Blue Cross Blue Sheild, and then went to work at the Yale Health Plan at Yale University. Noreen retired from Yale University after an over 30-year career as the Communications Coordinator. She was married to Thomas FW Slater for almost 20 blissful years. Noreen loved to travel and with the love of her life, her husband Tom Slater, they made it to all 50 states and over 15 countries. Being a first-generation Irish American, she had a love of all things Irish. Noreen made several trips across the pond to Ireland. She loved Irish music and dancing. Her and Tom took ceilidh dancing lessons at the Irish Club and Michele went with them too, in case an extra partner was needed. Many a night or on a Sunday morning there was a hooley in the kitchen of Noreen’s house dancing to traditional Irish music. There were also many Broadway music sing alongs to her favorite musicals like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, and The Greatest Showman just to name a few. Noreen’s house was full of warmth, happiness, hugs, and food…LOTS of food. She loved company and loved to feed a crowd. Nothing made her happier than feeding people that she loved. And there was no better listener than Noreen. If you were talking to her and telling her a story, you had her complete undivided attention. Noreen was a devoted mother to Michele Dingus, her pride and joy. Noreen and Michele were incredibly close, where you saw one you were sure to see the other. She would always say to everyone “we are as one” and that was so true, almost like they shared a heartbeat. Noreen lived with Michele and her husband Ed, who she could not have loved more if he was her own son. Michele has said that it was the greatest privilege of her life that she was able to spend these years living with her mother and caring for her. The moment Noreen passed Michele started to miss her. Noreen was preceded in death by her mother Nora B Kelly, her father Michael J Kelly, her brother Michael J Kelly, her husband Thomas FW Slater, and her best friend Marion P Mulrine, and is survived by her daughter Michele Dingus, her son-in-law Edwin J Dingus, her brother Edward Kelly, her sister-in-law JoAnn Kelly, her niece Erin Kelly, her nephew Shaun Kelly, her niece Amy Hermann, her niece Meghan Montana, her niece Jen Kelly, her step-son David Slater, her step-son Mark Slater, her step-daughter Donalee Slater, her grandson Mark Colburn, her granddaughter Lauren Gaudet, and her sister-in-law Marge Ottenbreit. These family and all of those who felt the love and light that Noreen brought to their lives will never forget her. Funeral services are Thursday at 11 a.m. in Sisk Brothers Funeral Home 3105 Whitney Ave. Hamden. Burial in All Saints Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday from 4 - 8 pm. In lieu of flowers contributions to the Clelian Center 261 Benham St. Hamden, CT. 06514

Noreen K. Slater

December 27, 1943 - September 5, 2024