Mary Loretta Sonntag

Mary Loretta Rita Noone Sonntag, known as Loretta, passed away peacefully at home, her husband of 53 years by her side. Loretta, a beacon of resilience, courageously battled chronic lung disease and its effects for many years. She was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, on November 25, 1940, to Angela Burke Noone and Joseph A. Noone.

In 1952, the family moved to New Jersey, and Loretta graduated from Roselle Park High School. Before the birth of her children, she was employed by Jersey Mortgage Co. and was a legal secretary for Anthony E. Russo, Esq. in Union, N. J., and was an office manager in the HRI Department at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J. She and her husband, Eric J. Sonntag (Rick), lived in Franklin Township, New Jersey, and raised three children, Fredrick Riehl of Kailua, Hawaii, Jennifer Sonntag of Brooklyn, New York, and Eric M. Sonntag of Haddonfield, New Jersey. Loretta’s love of family and her warmth drew everyone who knew her close to her. She was always available to the family for fun, conversation, advice, and comfort.

She doted on her brothers and sisters and their families…and now their families! She would probably say her favorite time of all was visiting her five grandchildren in Hawaii as often as she could, and they got her into the surf and doing things she didn’t think she could do. Four grandchildren in Hawaii survived her: Maile Jenkins (Timothy), Aidan Riehl, Remi Riehl, and Jude Riehl. She is predeceased by her oldest grandson, Kody James Riehl.

As Loretta started getting older, with no children at home, she decided to try some drawing. Her husband, Rick, is an artist, as well as both sons and a granddaughter. She was up for the challenge and produced beautiful drawings at first, then moved on to oil painting, creating beautiful portraitures of people she loved as well as people she didn’t know. She surprised herself and anyone she dared to show her work. It was a lovely thing to see and inspired younger members of her family to nurture their artistic selves. A legacy to be proud of, she was so humble but could be proud as well, a tell of her Irish heritage! Of the original family of eight children, three survive: Loretta, Angela Amaniera (Charles, dec.), Donald Noone (Nancy, dec.) Catherine Korsantand her husband, Philip.

Loretta was predeceased by four older brothers, Joseph A Noone, Jr., Robert Noone and his wife, Emma, William Noone and his wife, Maria, Paul Noone and his wife, Beverly. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great- nieces, great-nephews, and now a generation of great-great nieces and nephews. She will be missed very much by all who knew her.

Gathering with the family will be Friday, February 14, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home.  A Funeral service will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home.  Cremation was private.  All arrangements are in the care of Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home.