We are very saddened to announce that our oldest volunteer, Miriam Anne Van Loan, died peacefully on May 7, 2022 at the age of 98. Miriam began volunteering at the library in 1996 and was honored as our volunteer of the year in 2016. She inspired us all with her volunteer spirit and contributions.
Obituary:
Miriam was born on February 20, 1924 in New York City, where she attended Catholic schools throughout her youth, culminating in high school at the School of the Blessed Sacrament on an academic scholarship. Her strong Catholic faith was her guiding light throughout her long life. Upon graduation from Hunter College in 1946 with a degree in English, Miriam worked as a preschool teacher and also taught at the New York School for the Deaf.
After Miriam's first child was born, she was able to fulfill her desire to stay home to raise her four children. She moved from Cornwall, New York, to Atlanta in 1982 to live closer to her daughter and family, and was a loving and supportive influence on the lives of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Miriam's love of children was enduring. After raising her own family, she worked for 30 years caring for infants and toddlers in the nursery at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, in Atlanta. Her love of reading led her to volunteer with the Smyrna Library for over 20 years, and she was honored for her service by the Friends of Smyrna Library. Her other hobbies and interests included classical music, gardening, and cooking for family and for those in need. Miriam leaves behind three children: Bob Van Loan (Diane), Dr. Linda Anthony (Hank), and Jim Van Loan (Susan), nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.
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