Marilynn E. (McIntosh) Noel

Marilynn E. Noel

DOVER – Marilynn E. (McIntosh) Noel, 72, entered into rest at 8:05 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Providence Place in Dover. 

Born August 14, 1952 in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Charles P. and Molly J. (Pitcher) McIntosh.

Marilynn was the wife of the late Joseph Noel who passed away at an early age. Marilynn raised her two small children, Matthew and Joann, on her own and was a devoted mother, protector, and role model. She sacrificed all she had and opened up a world of opportunities for them.

Marilynn valued education and put herself through graduate school and earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Shippensburg University.  Both of her children would also go on to college, and she was present to cheer on her daughter, Joann, when she earned her own Master’s degree from Shippensburg University.

Her passion for teaching children was evident in the many years she taught at St. Andrews Catholic School in Waynesboro and St. Patrick Cathedral School in Harrisburg. She would later go on to become principal at St. Andrews.  In addition, Marilynn had been the assistant principal at St. Patrick School in Carlisle.

Marilynn had a gift for working with those who needed a little extra care and advocated for those who did not have a voice. Later in her career she challenged herself by becoming the Director of Education at the State Correctional Institute at Coal Township. She treated all her students - children or inmates - with empathy, compassion, and unconditional positive regard.

Marilynn’s faith was extremely important to her and helped her endure and rise above many challenges in her life. She was very involved with the Catholic Church and its charitable activities, served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and delivered Meals-on-Wheels among many others things.  She was a member of both St. Matthew Catholic Church in Dauphin and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Carlisle.

Marilynn cherished the tight knit group of friends from her days at Bishop McDevitt High School and enjoyed reconnecting with them in her later years. She often spoke fondly of the reunions, lunches, and get-togethers with old friends.

Marilynn loved all living things – humans, plants, and animals. She spent her life tending to her gardens which sometimes contained more weeds than flowers because, “it was better for the bees and butterflies.” Her household was always full of rescue animals that needed homes. These included cats, dogs, bunnies, birds, mice, lizards, etc. They were her life and brough her so much joy. She cherished and repaired all broken creatures that came her way.

Marilynn was also a force of nature and stubborn in the best of ways. There was nothing she believed she was incapable of when she set her mind to it. She marched to the beat of her own drum, and anyone who joined in that eccentric march was led to a world of excitement, wonder, and endless possibilities.

She is survived by her son, Matthew Noel and wife, Kim of Ewing, NJ; granddaughter, Alyssa Noel of Ewing, NJ; daughter, Joann Noel and husband, Justin Wenger of Harrisburg, PA; brother, Bob McIntosh and husband, Tom Robles of San Jose, CA; and four sisters, Jeane Cooke and husband, Peter of Gladwyne, PA, Karen Bernhard and husband, Dennis of New Tripoli, PA, Mindy McIntosh Demaris and husband, Robb of Princess Anne, MD and Laurie Lyter and husband, Frank of Kempton, PA.

Following cremation, relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Mass at 11a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Dr., Carlisle.  A reception will immediately follow for friends and family to celebrate Marilynn’s life. For those who wish to attend, inurnment will follow the reception in St. Patrick Cemetery, 343 McClure's Gap Rd., Carlisle.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Emig Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., Dover.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Antietam Humane Society, 8513 Lyons Road, Waynesboro, PA 17268. 

To share memories of Marilynn and condolences with her family, please visit www.emigfuneralhome.com.

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