[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H624-H625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             {time}  (1030)
                    REMEMBERING NOREEN REALE FALCONE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Katko) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my dear 
friend Noreen Reale Falcone, who passed away on February 6, just shy of 
her 84th birthday.
  Quite simply, Noreen led a remarkable life. She was a lifelong 
educator, a passionate philanthropist, and a cherished community leader 
who lived her life in service to others.
  A Syracuse native, Noreen started her career working as an elementary 
school teacher. There she developed a passion for helping young people 
achieve their dreams and become well-rounded adults who strive to make 
the world more just and humane.
  Even before she started teaching, Noreen always focused on 
philanthropy. Her family recounted a time to me when she was a child 
and received a new bicycle for Christmas. Instead of keeping it for 
herself, she gave it to someone less advantaged than her. That is 
Noreen.
  In adulthood, she served on countless charitable boards, an 
incredible amount of boards that she was on. She also served as 
president of the board of trustees at Manlius Pebble Hill School and in 
a wide range of roles at her alma mater Le Moyne College.
  In recognition of Noreen's contributions to education and her service 
to the community, in 1998, Le Moyne named its library the Noreen Reale 
Falcone Library.
  Beyond her love for education and philanthropy, Noreen was a devoted 
wife, mother, and grandmother. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 
60 years, Michael, better known as Mickey, 4 kids, and 13 grandkids. 
She so loved her grandkids and her kids that she actually put statues 
in her yard so when they weren't there in the later years, she could 
look out and be reminded of them when she sees these statues. That is 
the kind of person she was.
  She was also a woman of strong Catholic faith who was an active 
parishioner at St. Mary's of the Lake in

[[Page H625]]

Skaneateles and participated in service missions around the world. 
Remarkably, she was the first female ever elected president of the 900-
plus-year-old order of the Knights of Malta, an incredible feat.
  Noreen will leave behind an enduring legacy that will live on through 
the many community works she championed and the countless lives, 
including mine, that she uplifted through her educational endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in 
honoring the life and legacy of Noreen Falcone. May she rest in peace.

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