A funeral Mass for Sister Miriam J. Nolan, RSM, was celebrated July 31 in the chapel at Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in Frontenac. Sister Miriam, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas for 65 years, died July 26 at Catherine’s Residence in Frontenac. She was 82 years old.
Johanna Nolan was born on April 6, 1941, in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland. She was the daughter of James Nolan and Mary Costigan Nolan. She entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1958, and later received the name Sister Miriam Joseph. She professed her first vows in 1961 and made perpetual profession on Aug. 16, 1966. Her ring motto was “Thy Will Be Done.”
Sister Miriam completed her high school studies at St. Mary’s Presentation College High School in Mountmellick, Ireland, in 1958 and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Webster College in 1963. She earned her secondary education teaching certificate in 1965 and a master’s degree in chemistry from Syracuse University in 1971. She also received a certificate for religious formation/spiritual direction in 1975.
Sister Miriam taught at Sacred Heart High School in Biloxi, Mississippi; St. Joseph Secondary School in Jeanerette, Louisiana; and St. John’s Inter-Parochial High School in Gulfport, Mississippi. Sister Miriam held numerous integral staff positions within the Sisters of Mercy, including vocation and formation ministry and community leadership. In addition to her love of teaching, Sister Miriam established Mercy Conference and Retreat Center and became its first executive director. Sister Miriam served on numerous Mercy Health System boards and most recently was an active volunteer at the Pratt Cancer Center outpatient laboratory.
Sister Miriam is survived by her brother Tom and numerous nieces and nephews from County Tipperary, Ireland. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Dan and Oliver Nolan.
Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
