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Noel Michele Spenceley - Sr. Michelle of Reynaldstone, Wales who died at Llantarnam Abbey on 17th December 2021 aged 77 years, 52 of Religious Profession. |
Noel Michele Pauline Spenceley was born in Wales in Reynaldstone on the Gower Peninsula on 26th March 1944. She was an only child. She became a pupil at St. Joseph’s Convent School/Tredegar Park and became a Catholic at the age of 11.
In 1966 she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron. She made her First Profession with them in 1969 and her Final Profession in 1974.
Having spent three years training at Notre Dame College, Liverpool Sr. Michelle qualified as a teacher in 1975. In 1977 she became a teacher of the Deaf, gaining her audiology Diploma at Manchester University.
Sr. Michelle however did not feel settled in the Congregation of Our Lady of Evron and made a request to enter with the Sisters of St. Joseph whom she had known from her school days.
On the 8th December 1982 she transferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy. She spent time in Morden and Ross on Wye teaching, while discernment took place as to the future.
In 1984 she made nine months Novitate. On 29th August 1985 she made Final Profession as a Sister of St. Joseph of Annecy.
From 1985 to 1987 she lived at Llantarnam Abbey, teaching locally. Then in 1987 she joined the community in Cardiff and in 1989 went to Taunton. In 1999 Sr. Michelle reviewed her future mission in teaching.
A change of ministry then took place. Sr. Michelle retired from teaching and became a very competent Parish Sister and Hospital Chaplain.
As she was an only child she took on her responsibility for her mother’s wellbeing.
In July 2016 Sister became ill. It was a serious illness. In her customary fashion Sr. Michelle faced the situation head on. She remained positive and took all treatment in her stride. During this time her mother died on 16th November 2019. Her ashes were placed in the Llantarnam Abbey cemetery.
In due course Michelle was informed that further therapy was no longer possible. We saw that she was becoming weaker but she carried on as much as she could; writing the Sunday Intercessions, organising chapel flowers, maintaining her interest in tennis. Always a positive competent outlook! She arranged a visit to Taunton probably knowing that it was a last visit. Then with the support of Sr. Anne she had 6 days in Walsingham. It was a long journey there and back and on return she was obviously ill. She moved into St. Joseph’s Wing and finally was able to accept her situation. It was a terminal journey and so it was a blessing that she died so suddenly at 3.30 a.m. on Friday 17th December.
Once again we acknowledge the care given by Sister Marianne, the nurses and carers on St. Joseph’s Wing.
Sr. Michelle shared her Requiem Mass with Sr. Francis Xavier who had died two days previously to her. These two Sisters so different in their life experience are now united at their ending.
Sr. Michelle has been buried in the Abbey cemetery at a short distance from where her mother’s ashes are interred. May Sr. Michelle rest in peace.
Noel Michele Pauline Spenceley was born in Wales in Reynaldstone on the Gower Peninsula on 26th March 1944. She was an only child. She became a pupil at St. Joseph’s Convent School/Tredegar Park and became a Catholic at the age of 11.
In 1966 she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron. She made her First Profession with them in 1969 and her Final Profession in 1974.
Having spent three years training at Notre Dame College, Liverpool Sr. Michelle qualified as a teacher in 1975. In 1977 she became a teacher of the Deaf, gaining her audiology Diploma at Manchester University.
Sr. Michelle however did not feel settled in the Congregation of Our Lady of Evron and made a request to enter with the Sisters of St. Joseph whom she had known from her school days.
On the 8th December 1982 she transferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy. She spent time in Morden and Ross on Wye teaching, while discernment took place as to the future.
In 1984 she made nine months Novitate. On 29th August 1985 she made Final Profession as a Sister of St. Joseph of Annecy.
From 1985 to 1987 she lived at Llantarnam Abbey, teaching locally. Then in 1987 she joined the community in Cardiff and in 1989 went to Taunton. In 1999 Sr. Michelle reviewed her future mission in teaching.
A change of ministry then took place. Sr. Michelle retired from teaching and became a very competent Parish Sister and Hospital Chaplain.
As she was an only child she took on her responsibility for her mother’s wellbeing.
In July 2016 Sister became ill. It was a serious illness. In her customary fashion Sr. Michelle faced the situation head on. She remained positive and took all treatment in her stride. During this time her mother died on 16th November 2019. Her ashes were placed in the Llantarnam Abbey cemetery.
In due course Michelle was informed that further therapy was no longer possible. We saw that she was becoming weaker but she carried on as much as she could; writing the Sunday Intercessions, organising chapel flowers, maintaining her interest in tennis. Always a positive competent outlook! She arranged a visit to Taunton probably knowing that it was a last visit. Then with the support of Sr. Anne she had 6 days in Walsingham. It was a long journey there and back and on return she was obviously ill. She moved into St. Joseph’s Wing and finally was able to accept her situation. It was a terminal journey and so it was a blessing that she died so suddenly at 3.30 a.m. on Friday 17th December.
Once again we acknowledge the care given by Sister Marianne, the nurses and carers on St. Joseph’s Wing.
Sr. Michelle shared her Requiem Mass with Sr. Francis Xavier who had died two days previously to her. These two Sisters so different in their life experience are now united at their ending.
Sr. Michelle has been buried in the Abbey cemetery at a short distance from where her mother’s ashes are interred. May Sr. Michelle rest in peace.