Sister Noella Blick, ASC

Summary

Sister Noella Blick, ASC, passed into eternal life at 10:13 a.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023, two days after choosing to enter hospice care. She died in Caritas Center, Wichita, Kansas, while the community was celebrating Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration in the convent chapel. She was 98 years old and was a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 78 years.

Sister Noella Blick, ASC, passed into eternal life at 10:13 a.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023, two days after choosing to enter hospice care. She died in Caritas Center, Wichita, Kansas, while the community was celebrating Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration in the convent chapel. She was 98 years old and was a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 78 years.

Sister Noella was the third child and third daughter of John Nicholas and Grace (Kennedy) Blick. Born Dolores Grace in Hutchison, Kansas on March 4, 1925, she was eventually joined by five younger brothers. She attended St. Teresa’s parish school through two years of secondary education before coming to St. John’s Academy for her junior and senior years.

Entering the convent at 18, after graduation, she followed the path of her three aunts, Srs. Benita, Alicia, and Emma Blick, two older sisters, Srs. Joan and Carmelita, and a maternal cousin, Sr. Vivian Miller. On July 1, 1944, she received the name Noella as a novice. She professed first vows on July 1, 1945, and final vows on July 1, 1950.

As was common practice at that time, Sr. Noella was assigned to teach directly after novitiate. She gradually completed college courses during the summer months, graduating from Sacred Heart College (now Newman University) with a BS in Education and from St. Mary College, Leavenworth with an MS in Education Administration.

For 58 years she served in elementary schools in the Wichita and Dodge City dioceses. In 1995 she wrote that “I…have spent my entire professional career as principal and teacher in schools in Kansas. In my opinion, there is no greater work than the education and guidance of children and youth.”

Saint Peter Claver, her first teaching assignment, was an all-Black school. This experience developed her life-long awareness of the need to impress on students the values of justice and respect for all people’s rights and cultures. For Sr. Noella education was about imparting Christian values. “Our students are going to live in the greater world. We’re educating students to be leaders for good – good Christians who will want to make the world a better place,” she said.

In addition to St. Peter Claver and All Saints schools in Wichita, Sr. Noella taught at St. John, Spearville, and St. Nicholas, Kinsley. Her last teaching assignment lasted 22 years at St. Joseph, Ellinwood, where she eventually worked part-time and was a major force in establishing the computer programs for the students. She also initiated the Grandfriend Program, where students were matched with St. Joseph parishioners 70 and older. The purpose of the program was to teach the students compassion, to be concerned about the elderly, and to have an opportunity to learn from their wisdom.

In 2003 Sr. Noella moved to the Wichita Center to continue living mission in later life. Seven years later she wrote, “Even before I was finished unpacking and settling in, I was asked to assist in the Regional Archives, a work I continue to enjoy.”

When COVID restrictions limited movement from one area of the convent to another, she chose to reside in Caritas Center. She wanted to be available to assist Sr. Carmelita with daily activities made more difficult by her progressive blindness.

Until recently Sr. Noella enjoyed caring for her rose bushes, reading, working jigsaw puzzles, and solving the daily WORDLE game.

Sister Noella was preceded in death by her parents, John and Grace, her sisters, Sr. Joan and Sr. Carmelita, brothers John, Maurus, Roy and Fred, her three Adorer Blick aunts, Sr. Alicia, Sr. Benitia and Sr. Emma and cousin, Sr. Vivian Miller. She is survived by her brother, Tom, numerous nieces and nephews and Sister Tarcisia Roths, ASC, a cousin.

Sister Noella will be welcomed home to the Wichita Center on Thursday, August 10, with a Wake Service at 10:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated that same day at 11:15 a.m. with her first cousin, Rev. Ned Blick, as presider and homilist. All services will take place at the Woman of the New Covenant Chapel.

Sister Noella, you left us quickly and quietly, so like you, a woman with an economy of words, decisive and straightforward. How appropriate that you died as the community was listening to Matthew’s account of Jesus’ transfiguration. At that moment you heard in your heart, “This is my beloved daughter. Be transformed into new life.”

Adorers of the Blood of Christ
United States Region
August 7, 2023

Donations in memory of Sister Noella may be sent to the Adorers at 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, or made online at www.adorers.org