The Life of Sister Miriam Nolan

Sister Miriam J. Nolan, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas for 65 years, died on July 26 at Catherine’s Residence, the Community’s retirement center, 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 was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary, and brothers Dan and Oliver Nolan.

On September 8, 1958, Johanna Nolan entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy and later received the name Sister Miriam Joseph Nolan. She professed her first vows in 1961 and made perpetual profession on August 16, 1966.

Sister Miriam completed her high school studies at St. Mary’s Presentation College High School, Mountmellick, Ireland in 1958 and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Webster College in St. Louis, MO., in 1963. She earned her secondary education teaching certificate in 1965; and a Master of Science in Chemistry from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York in 1971. She also received a certificate for Religious Formation/Spiritual Direction in 1975.

Sister Miriam taught at Sacred Heart High School, Biloxi, Mississippi, St. Joseph Secondary School, Jeanerette, Louisiana, and St. John’s Inter-Parochial High School, 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, Sr. 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.

Her ring motto was “Thy Will Be Done.” 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mercy Conference and Retreat Center – Mercy Heroes Fund or another fund supporting the retreat center.