Noreen Bernadette Hernandez (née Keane), 75, of San Antonio, Texas, passed peacefully at her home after a long illness on Friday, November 18, 2022, in the presence of her loving family. She was born in Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland on February 10, 1947.
Noreen married Pablo Arturo Hernandez, Jr. in England on June 17, 1972 and earned her BA from University College, Dublin the same year. She received her BS from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1976. They lived in Las Vegas, England, California, Spain, and settled in San Antonio when Pablo retired from the United States Air Force in 1983.
Noreen began her San Antonio teaching career at Little Flower Catholic School in 1984. There, she found lifelong friends in the nuns who staffed the school - many of whom were also from Ireland. Noreen taught at Buena Vista Elementary School in 1986, and earned her Masters from the University of Texas, San Antonio in 1988. She spent most of her career at Lackland Elementary School, and retired from there as a talented reading specialist in 2005. Noreen was known for inspiring students with dyslexia, and continued even after retirement: part time at Lackland, teaching adults at Northwest Vista College, and through private tutoring.
Noreen was an active church and choir member at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for more than 30 years. She spent every summer in Ireland, walking along her favorite beach and visiting her home, family, and friends – and reading.
Noreen will be missed and fondly remembered by her children, Tara (David) Bliven of Westport, Ireland, and Sean Hernandez of San Antonio, Texas; siblings Marie Keane of New York, and PJ Keane, Deirdre Murphy, Anne O'Grady, Catherine Faulkner, Eamonn Keane, and their spouses, Ireland; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and colleagues around the world.
She is predeceased by her husband Pablo, parents Austin and Bridget, sister-in-law Marie and niece Gemma.
