After dating for five years through high school and college, she married her high school sweetheart, Herb Amend, in 1962. Together they worked to build a life for themselves and their family.
Noreen was always proud of her family, her children Cori, Michael, Shawn and Kelly, and later her grandchildren, Ashley, Chelsea, Bailey, Jagger, Stephanie, Ansley, and Ryder,. They adored her as much as she adored them. With Noreen, family always came first.
Noreen’s greatest passion was serving as a registered Emergency Room Nurse, beginning her career in 1962 at Bryan Memorial (Bryan East). She worked nights in the Emergency Room there for 56 years and, in her later years, participated in Bryan’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. She lived–and died–at Bryan East
“Nurse Noreen” as she was affectionately referred to by her family and closest friends was everyone’s go-to medical resource, a living, breathing WebMD in both the pre and current Internet era. Because of her care and concern for others she was deeply loved.
Noreen loved her home on an acreage in south Lincoln. She loved to look at the beauty of the flowers, trees, and landscaping that Herb planted and meticulously maintained. She especially loved the warmth of her home at Christmas filled with the love and laughter of family, keeping some decorations up year round in tribute as much as memory.
She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Herb Amend; children Dr. Cori Amend (Ryan Sothan), Michael (Kerry Botsford) Amend, Shawn (Dawn Everett) Amend, and Kelly (Jennifer Harris) Amend; grandchildren Ansley Sothan, Ashley (Bryce) Ficken, Chelsea Amend, Stephanie Amend, Bailey Amend, Jagger Amend, and Ryder Amend; great-grandchildren Crew Ficken and Dylan Ficken.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, November 3rd, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan Boulevard, Lincoln, NE.
Memorials may be directed to the Bryan Health East Foundation, checks payable to The Bryan Health East Foundation in Honor of Noreen Amend, 1600 S 48th Street, Lincoln, NE, 68506.