Obituary for Iris Marie Moran
Iris Marie Moran. Our matriarch, our rock, the light of all our lives, a pillar in her community, an aide to the sick and elderly, a eucharistic minister, a dog whisperer, a loyal friend and sister, the most nurturing mother and Nanny….
Although Nanny held many titles, there are certain people we encounter in life who are insufficiently described in words. Their presence and aura are so bright, vivacious and consuming that trying to find the nouns and verbs to encapsulate that type of being is almost impossible. To capture Iris, you had to know her and feel her warmth. You had to see her performing her acts of good and hear her speaking the words of God. Nanny lived every day in the image and likeness of God. She was selfless, loving, and patient. With Nanny, our concerns and complaints never fell on deaf ears. She was everyone’s cheerleader and shoulder to cry on.
Iris was born in Brooklyn in May of 1942 and boy was she a Brooklyn girl through and through. She was the 3rd of 5 children and lived a modest early life. Materialistically they didn’t have much but Nanny would say she was “rich in other ways, like love, health and family.” Around the age of 17, Nanny met the love of her life, Thomas. They met one night at a church dance, spoke all night long and were quickly smitten with each other. They went on to have two children, Karen and Thomas who together gave her 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandson to spoil and love. Together, Nanny and Papa curated such a wonderfully beautiful life. She had many joys in life, but nothing made her happier than seeing her whole family together. Because of the love she showed us, we all share such a special and rare bond.
After our grandfather, Papa, passed away in 2001, Nanny turned to the Church as a means of understanding life and death and reconnecting with her faith. She developed a deep sense of devotion for Jesus, this parish, and the Virgin Mary. Nanny grew to love the habitual process of attending Mass, and along the way created another family, her spiritual family. Being a Eucharistic minister gave Nanny so much meaning and purpose. However, if there was one thing Nanny really and truly loved to do it was the Rosary. Nanny always preached the power of prayer and believed that anything you were worried about or unsure of could be resolved by prayer. It was a channel of serenity for her. Well, Nanny, we all listened to you. On the day you made your journey towards the gates of heaven, you had your family and your spiritual family joined in prayer, lifting you up towards eternal peace.
We all knew just how special she was while she was with us in this life. Not a day went by that we didn’t express how loved and adored she was. Nothing was left unsaid. We often joked and said she was our very own “living saint” because of how she lived each and every day. Now, it is eternally true. Nanny, we know you are dancing in the clouds with Papa, laughing with Little Nanny, and playing with all the fur babies who went to paradise before you. We will see you in everything we do and will spend each day continuing to make you proud. Thank you for blessing us with your unconditional love. We all are who we are because of you. Nanny, we love you forever and ever.
Although Nanny held many titles, there are certain people we encounter in life who are insufficiently described in words. Their presence and aura are so bright, vivacious and consuming that trying to find the nouns and verbs to encapsulate that type of being is almost impossible. To capture Iris, you had to know her and feel her warmth. You had to see her performing her acts of good and hear her speaking the words of God. Nanny lived every day in the image and likeness of God. She was selfless, loving, and patient. With Nanny, our concerns and complaints never fell on deaf ears. She was everyone’s cheerleader and shoulder to cry on.
Iris was born in Brooklyn in May of 1942 and boy was she a Brooklyn girl through and through. She was the 3rd of 5 children and lived a modest early life. Materialistically they didn’t have much but Nanny would say she was “rich in other ways, like love, health and family.” Around the age of 17, Nanny met the love of her life, Thomas. They met one night at a church dance, spoke all night long and were quickly smitten with each other. They went on to have two children, Karen and Thomas who together gave her 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandson to spoil and love. Together, Nanny and Papa curated such a wonderfully beautiful life. She had many joys in life, but nothing made her happier than seeing her whole family together. Because of the love she showed us, we all share such a special and rare bond.
After our grandfather, Papa, passed away in 2001, Nanny turned to the Church as a means of understanding life and death and reconnecting with her faith. She developed a deep sense of devotion for Jesus, this parish, and the Virgin Mary. Nanny grew to love the habitual process of attending Mass, and along the way created another family, her spiritual family. Being a Eucharistic minister gave Nanny so much meaning and purpose. However, if there was one thing Nanny really and truly loved to do it was the Rosary. Nanny always preached the power of prayer and believed that anything you were worried about or unsure of could be resolved by prayer. It was a channel of serenity for her. Well, Nanny, we all listened to you. On the day you made your journey towards the gates of heaven, you had your family and your spiritual family joined in prayer, lifting you up towards eternal peace.
We all knew just how special she was while she was with us in this life. Not a day went by that we didn’t express how loved and adored she was. Nothing was left unsaid. We often joked and said she was our very own “living saint” because of how she lived each and every day. Now, it is eternally true. Nanny, we know you are dancing in the clouds with Papa, laughing with Little Nanny, and playing with all the fur babies who went to paradise before you. We will see you in everything we do and will spend each day continuing to make you proud. Thank you for blessing us with your unconditional love. We all are who we are because of you. Nanny, we love you forever and ever.