Current Ministry Location: Maryknoll Sisters Center-Maryknoll, NY

Born in Philadelphia, Sister Noel graduated from West Catholic Girls High School in 1944, and after briefly working as a Western Union operator, joined Maryknoll in September 1945.  She said “I was attracted to the Maryknoll Sisters because of its two-fold dimension – Contemplative and Missionary.  I felt called to both lives and God… allowed me to experience both as a member of the cloister from 1950 -1953 and as a missioner in Chicago Chinatown and in Hong Kong.”

Sister Noel professed her First Vows in 1948 and, after acquiring her B.E. at Maryknoll Teachers College in 1959, was assigned to Chicago Chinatown.  During her ten years of missions there, Sister Noel taught eighth grade at St. Theresa’s School.

In 1969, Sister Noel earned her Master of Education from Loyola University and then set off for Hong Kong to teach in the Maryknoll Sisters’ secondary school.  While there, she also served in other social and educational ministries, including counseling for both primary and secondary students.

Sister Noel returned to Chicago in 1983, where served as the religion coordinator for St. Theresa’s school and its associated parish.  She also supervised a ministry practicum for students from the Catholic Theological Union.  In June 1993, Sister Noel was presented with a life time service award by the Office of Catholic Education.  From 1995 until her retirement in 2006, Sister Noel involved herself in family ministry.

She is currently a prayerful and well-loved resident of the Retirement Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in New York.