Posted June 23, 2025

Sister Marie Noel Nguyen died in Camilla Hall on June 14, 2025 in the 61^st year of her religious life. Sister was born on December 7, 1948 in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam.

On June 6, 1960 Sister Noel entered the Daughters of the Holy Rosary, she received her Holy Habit on May 24, 1965, she professed her First Vows on May 24, 1967, and her Final Vows on May 23, 1973.

Sister received her Elementary School education (1954-1960), and her Secondary education (1960-1965) in Chi Hoa and in Saigon (1967-1969). Her collegiate studies began in Saigon but due to life-changing circumstances, she was unable to attain degree completion. Sister Marie Noel left Vietnam and entered the United States on December 3, 1979. Sister Noel, as a Daughter of the Holy Rosary, continued her studies at Thomas More University in Kentucky (1979-1980) and Villanova University (1980-1983).

Sister Noel met many of our Sisters at Villanova and St. Charles Seminary in her beginning days in the United States. Sister was very impressed with the manner in which our Sisters lived out their “IHMness.” Sister Noel, after much prayer, guided discernment and discussion with the Provincial Councilors of the Daughters of the Holy Rosary, and our own IHM Leadership, as well as discussion with Msgr. James J. Flood, concluded that her desire to be an IHM Sister was paramount at this point in her religious life. Sister entered our Congregation on June 4, 1984; she received our IHM habit on August 7, 1987, and she pronounced Final Vows August 15, 1987. This whole process was accomplished with the consent of the Council of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, New Orleans, Louisiana and with the consent of the Council of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

During the course of Sister Marie Noel’s journey as an IHM, she served wholeheartedly and prayerfully as a team member at Camilla Hall, an elementary grade teacher at Incarnation Philadelphia, Sacred Heart Lancaster and St. Dominic Philadelphia. Sister tutored children in math at St. Francis de Sales School in Philadelphia. Sister was a valuable computer aide and assistant in the library at St. Laurence in Upper Darby. Sister Noel also ministered as an office assistant at Little Flower High School and West Catholic High School.

In August 2014 Sister Marie Noel returned to her first love – serving our Sisters in Camilla Hall as well as assisting colleagues clerically. Sister joyfully remained in this ministry until her health declined; then, she had the privilege settling into the specific ministry of prayer until her death on June 14. Sister Noel was known for her prayerfulness and her charity. God rest you, dear Sister. In the words of one Sister:. . .Sister Noel is prayerful and kind. . .always desirous of being the best IHM possible. Sister certainly succeeded in that endeavor.

In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Noel is survived by her sisters Alice Tran (Phuong), Marian Hua (Phuc), Marie Le (Michael), Anna Nguyen (Huan), Lynn Nguyen (Duc), her brothers Dominic Nguyen (Hang), Dominic Phong Nguyen, Anthony Nguyen, Lam Nguyen (Ha), and her nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister’s parents Dominic Dao Nguyen, Maria Dung Vu and her sister Martha Vo (Diem) predecease Sister Noel.

Reverend Francis Chambers, O.S.A., (Main Celebrant and Homilist), Reverend Thomas Higgins, and Reverend Edward Kelly concelebrated Sister Marie Noel Nguyen’s Funeral Mass on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355