One of our beloved Marianites was Sister Mary of Saint Theophilus, known to many as "Sister Theo."  She was the first grade teacher at Little Flower School.  Known to Arnaudville as "Celine Noel," daughter of Louis  and Marie Emma Berger Noel.  Sister Theo was one of 13 children and the sister to Damase who filled the church with the sound of his voice on Sunday mornings. Other siblings were  Dominic and Cecile Noel Marks.

Celine Noel was born in Arnaudville, Louisiana, and entered  the Marianites of the Holy Cross on August 17, 1918 and took her First Profession on March 19, 1921 and her Final Profession on March 19, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
That is 75 years of dedicated service. Many of the older Little Flower students remember her hands dyed purple from making copies on the old mimeograph pad.  She made each copy by hand, one at a time.  Of course, many can still see the beautiful pictures on the old blackboard which she drew with colored chalk.

Sister Theo lived to a very good age and was able to smile even though one of her legs had been amputated.

Thank you to Ruth and  Sister Marie Noel, nieces of Sister Theo who provided the information on Sister Theo.  We are grateful for their help.

View Sister Theo's actual records on file with the Marianites of the Holy Cross.