Naoma Yuenger ONeill

Naoma Yuenger O’Neill – September 29, 1928 to July 31, 2024
Naoma was the youngest child of Walter Albert Yuenger and Corinne Baker Yuenger, born on September 29, 1928, in Omaha, Nebraska. She died on July 31, 2024, at the age of 95. She outlived her parents and siblings, Warren Yuenger, Elaine Brower, and Muriel Easterling. She leaves behind her children: Coralee Eisner (Edward), Bradford O’Neill (Cathie), and Eileen Boughton (David), six grandchildren (Orion Boughton, Emily Medina, Erika Rhodes, Genevieve Takao, Jeremy O’Neill, and Heather Eisner), and six great grandchildren with two more on the way.Naoma grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and lived there during the Great Depression and World War II years. Walter was a manager for Ford Motor Company, and he was displaced when the Ford plant converted to war production. Originally from Denver, the Yuenger family moved back to Denver during World War II. Naoma graduated from South High School in Denver. She was an aspiring actress and appeared in several off-Broadway plays in New York City before meeting her husband in Denver while he was attending medical school. Naoma married to John C. O’Neill, MD (deceased), on April 8, 1947, in Denver, Colorado, and was divorced from him in 1970. After her children were old enough for school, Naoma enrolled at the University of Denver, where she earned a BA in History and Government and graduated summa cum laude. She taught Social Studies for several years at Thomas Jefferson High School in the Denver Public School system.
In 1965, Naoma moved from Denver to Northern Virginia when her husband closed his medical practice and took a job with the Food and Drug Administration. The family rented a house in Arlington while Naoma continued her teaching career in Fairfax County. Tensions in her marriage increased and they separated in 1968. The divorce was finalized in early 1970, and her ex-husband died later that same year. Naoma was a cat lover and adopted her first pair of cats that year. She had feline companions until the last year of her life.
In her early forties, with most of her funds dedicated to her children’s college expenses, Naoma built a new life as an independent woman. She continued her career teaching social studies and English to middle school students. A few years later, she switched to High School teaching Social Studies with responsibility for the advanced placement classes. Naoma also continued her own education earning a Master’s Degree in Education by taking classes in the evening
Despite having limited access to bank loans as a divorced woman without an independent credit history, Naoma eventually was able to purchase both halves of a duplex in Fairfax City in 1972. With her own house, she could express her lifelong love of gardening with her own flower beds. During her forties, inspired by her niece’s (Diane Wold) designs and methods, she started designing and making her own quilts. In her fifties, she developed an interest in belly dancing. Initially for exercise, she later joined a group that did belly dancing performances in the local area. Naoma lived in her Fairfax CIty house until her retirement in 1989, when she moved to Pueblo to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. Naoma purchased land in Pueblo across the river overlooking the Nature Center, and she hired a contractor to build a passive solar kit home. She and a local carpenter/family friend did the finish work on the home. She took wood working classes at Sangre de Cristo Art Center and built furniture for her new home: a sewing center, office desk, entertainment center, and vanity. Naoma also built furniture for her daughters’ homes. Her daughter, Eileen was building a home in Wetmore, and she was invaluable help in that project doing drywall and painting. At the same time, she got involved with the CSU Master Gardener program and volunteered as treasurer for the Farmers’ Market for many years.

Quilting became an obsession in her retirement years. As a member of the Pride City Quilt Guild and Royal Gorge Quilters, she made countless bed quilts, wall hangings and clothing, and took workshops to learn new skills. She also volunteered at the Pueblo Zoo, Nature Center, El Pueblo and the Art Center She planted flowers, weeded beds and other projects. Most notable is Santa’s quilted coat and the summer saddle for the bronze horse at Buell Children’s Museum. When her granddaughter, Emily, started taking Middle Eastern dancing classes, she joined her. They both joined a local troupe and she became a member of the troupe that Emily started several years later.
Naoma provided daycare and summer entertainment for Eileen’s children and, in turn, for her grand children’s children. She considered herself a facilitator, providing opportunity rather than entertainment. They gave her such joy and purpose.
Naoma came from a long line of strong women. At the end of her life, Naoma was proud that she was able to live independently until her final brief illness. She passed away peacefully and in comfort at the Joni Fair Hospice House in Pueblo. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Her remains have been cremated. She was a generous donor to many charities. Any contributions should be made to the charity of your choice.