Mary Francis Barnett Noosinow

November 22nd, 1934 - July 29th, 2022

Memorial

Mementos

Loved Ones

Carpe Diem!

Mary Francis Barnett Noosinow will always be remembered as an incredible force of nature with an indomitable spirit. Her life embodied her motto, Carpe Diem, "seize the day". We will miss her intellect, fierce passion and her delightful sense of humor.

The daughter of James Andrew Barnett and Mary Catherine Glos, Mary Francis Barnett was born November 22, 1934 in Washington, D.C., spending her childhood and adolescent years in Danville, Virginia. Tragedy to her family came early as her father passed away in 1937 from Leukemia when Mary was only three. As a widow, her mother would move to Attleboro, MA for better job opportunities to support their family. Mary would finish Attleboro High School in 1952.

Then in 1954 at 21 years of age she dared to reach for her dreams. Gathering her funds and without telling her mother, she paid her way to fly from Providence, RI to LaGuardia Airport in New York. Mary was vying with the many hopeful young women ambitiously seeking the life of world travel. Interviews were being held with the prestigious Pan American World Airways, a pioneering airline and first to fly worldwide.

Of course, Mary landed the job. The Pan American training young women had to undergo was rigorous. Back then called stewardesses, these young women were schooled in charm, etiquette, cooking, languages, appropriate dressing, VIP handling and many other rules set forth by Pan American World Airways. A further requirement in those years: one had to be attractive. Pan Am stewardesses then set the standard all others attempted to emulate.

Mary was then assigned Pan Am routes to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. At one point she was based in West-Berlin, where Americans had the air-rights and Pan Am operated a hub.

Stewardesses were glamorous women during those early days. Attractive and beautifully uniformed, they were personified elegance. Long layovers meant they could experience the cities they flew to. Pan Am stewardesses did see the world. However, the job was also demanding. They were expected to remain gracious and keep their countenance in stressful situations. They had to cook when assigned to first class. Those were eggs made in a frying pan. There were no microwaves on board. She even served Eleanor Roosevelt who at the time flew coach with the people.

It was in Istanbul, Turkey that she would meet her future husband, Jerry Noosinow, a Pan American flight engineer. In 1958, they discovered the Lake Mohawk community of Sparta Township. This lake town located in northern New Jersey was a popular homebase for many in the airline industry due the close proximity to Newark, Laguardia and JFK airports.

Mary fell in love with this village called Sparta and soon became a mother with the birth of Lisa and thirteen months later her son, David. She fully immersed herself in many aspects of the community. She acted in the local theater, Magic Mountain. She had a passion for photography which led to converting a spare room into a darkroom to develop pictures. To this day we still share those black and white pictures of the 1972 Lake Mohawk Red Devils and Sparta Warriors. She used her talents for fundraising for the teams, setting up her table full of action photos to sell to the parents at the next game. Seeing a lack of places for teenagers in the sixties she worked with others to create the creative space “The Barn”, a safe place for kids to hang.

Our home was always the place where all our friends wanted to hangout. She loved sharing herself with our friends. If someone was having trouble at home, they were welcome at our house. Mom gained the moniker “the cool Mom”

Her love of cooking blossomed in this small town setting starting with her passion for Julia Child and French cooking. But Mary didn’t stop there. There was a Time Life series at the time with each volume devoted to a particular country's cuisine. We can remember our childhood through the variety of food cuisines she taught herself. Mexican, Mediterranean, Thai and let’s not forget the seven course Chinese banquet with whole fish. She would host huge parties back then of 50-60 people and loved entertaining her friends from around the lake or down at the Jersey Shore. Food was definitely her love language throughout her lifetime.

Eventually, Mary would move to Ft. Lauderdale. In 1979, Pan Am would gain the right to have tour groups going into China forming their World Tours division. The airline put in the call to their past stewardess to come and join them by leading these first tours into China. Mary was ready and embraced the opportunity to travel and adventure again.

Pan American World Tours eventually went out of business, and she continued her tour guide work with Club Universe. She had great fun helping people experience China in the most positive way. After divorcing, Mary would establish herself in Los Angeles, CA and continue her adventures in the travel industry.

She then moved away from tour guiding and got a job with the wholesale travel company InterPacific Tours International and rose to Vice President of Sales (1984 - 1995). She was a sponge for knowledge and immersed herself in every culture this company and following companies would expose her to. She became top expert in her field, all the while battling four significant bouts with cancer from 1999 to 2022. Nothing stopped Mary. When asked how she manages all of that travel, trade shows (alone) and selling, she just smiled and said “I rely on the kindness of others”. And in turn, she herself was always ready to help others when needed whether it was in a work situation or personally.

With her experience gleaned from InterPacific and then Pacific Delight Tours (1996 - 2008). Even later trying her hand partnering and starting her own small concierge travel business. By the last portion of her career she had traveled to China close to 100 times coupled with many trips to India, Thailand, most of Asia. She globe-trotted around Europe as well with Italy holding a special place in her heart. And all along the way meeting and befriending people around the world.

In 2012, Mary found her final work family with SITA World Tours. There she flexed her skills creating custom travel itineraries. She was especially proud of their work on specialized Women’s Travel opportunities. She finally retired in November of 2021. Mary was sad to leave her work family and friends but ready for that well deserved time to devote to family. She continued to be a member of World Wings International, the philanthropic organization of former Pan Am flight attendants, Skal Los Angeles and Prost.

In addition to her achievements in her travel career, she was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She showed the family the world, every trip would include a culinary lesson in that country. Each grandchild was taken on a special individual trip with Grammy to China when they reached twelve years old. Many meals at home were prepared with flavors from around the world. Laughter and love filled the kitchen with experiments in cuisine and fancy new cocktails.

Mary is survived by her son, David Noosinow, her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Jim Rule plus three granddaughters Averi Noosinow and Andrea and Amber Rule.

We welcome Mary’s friends across the globe to share their experiences of Mary and contribute to this memorial site through pictures and stories. We will keep this site up and when missing her the most treasure these heartfelt tales.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there.

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the autumn rain.

When you awake in the morning hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of birds curling in flight.

I am the stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.