Noel died today at 1:15pm. It was at home and was very peaceful. The boys and her two sisters and I were present. I read the Magnificat, the Canticle of Zachariah, and a hauntingly applicable poem excerpt by John O’Donohue, courtesy of Jack Berkemeyer (below). No date for the funeral yet, though I am trying for Wednesday at Saint Vincent’s here in San Rafael.
I am sad but also the luckiest of men to have had her with me for 35 years.
Thank you for your prayers, wishes, visits and more. We will see her again.
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.
Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of color.
The sound of your voice found for us
A new music that brightened everything.
Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened the joy of its being:
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.
May you continue to inspire us:
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
noelstanton 
She was and is loved.
We are so so sorry. All our prayers are with you. Kathy and George
I am so very sorry for your loss. Noel was an incredible person. The poem is so Noel!
You are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing so much of the last few weeks.
Sammy
We are so sorry. We so enjoyed spending reunion weekend with both of you renewing our old friendship. She put up a great fight. You both dealt with her illness so valiantly. As much as anyone could be prepared for this sad day, you two were. Our prayers to you and your family.
She is at peace now. We will be praying for you.
Sending all of our love, from my family to yours. Xo
Noel was complete and with peace, with you, her boys, and her sisters at her side. You were grace for her and she was a grace for you. You were all lucky, indeed. We, too, thank you for sharing her with us, through Noel’s blogs and finally, yours. She was remarkable in every way and oh, such a joy. The poem is beautiful and full of truth. Our prayers and love are with you, Clark, and the boys.
It was a great loss for all of us in her SCL class of 1962 .A group of us always stayed together and had reunions together. Noel was the sweetheart of our group, I think, and will never be forgotten. In her last years she became an inspiration to all of us. I was so glad that she had such a wonderful husband and sons whom I wish I could have met My prayers are with all of you.
Clarke, thank you for the wonderful note and the love you have shared with us. Noel is a jewel in the crown of God. I plan on putting her to work bringing an end to human trafficking and the abuse of the innocent. I think she is up to the task with the help of God. Love and blessings to you the boys and all the friends and family. I will offer mass you Noel and you this weekend. The community of St. Julie’s in Newbury Park will keep you in prayer. Leon
Thank you, Noel, for all you have brought to the world. My thoughts and prayers are with Clark and your family. You will not be forgotten by me or by any of the people you have touched and whose lives you have brightened.
I am so deeply saddened , but thank you for keeping us connected to Ann Noel Nusbaum Stanton until the end of her earthly life. Our prayers fly to heaven with her.
Noel was a truly kind, good person and a generous soul. I am so very sorry.
Sweet dreams, Sister Noel….
I am so sorry for your loss. Noel has been in my thoughts and prayers daily over the last few weeks. At least she is in peace and in a beautiful place. Thanks so much for your continued updates about her condition. I will continue to pray for you and the boys. Marylou from Salesian.
Clark, I am sad for you and your boys, but so happy Noel is through with her struggles and wrapped in the arms of our Blessed Mother. George and I feel we were honored to have had such a special two weeks with her at this time of her life. She is an inspiration and shining example of grace under unimaginable pressure.
I hope you will be coming to Houston sometime in the future to visit Kathy and John, and let us have some time with you, too.
Much love,
Nancy
We are so sorry for your loss. Noel was a very special person and we are proud to have been her friend. God bless your family.
Cori and Bill Hunter
We are so sorry to lose a bright light as Noel was for us .our thoughts and prayers are with you Clark.john and Luke we are aware of what your mom meant to you.love from all the Hendersons
I was lucky and privileged to know Noel, my lovely friend. So sad to see her leave us. Fond and fun memories… With love, Laura Mogannam
Peace and love to you and your family, Clark. Please reach out now and in the future for anything you all need.
Thank you for letting us know she had a peaceful and loving end to her beautiful life on earth. Reading all the posts makes me so thankful I knew her for even a few years.
She was so loved. You, the boys and her sisters will be in my prayers.
Oh, Clarke, Luke and John, We send our love and prayers to you. Noel was such a light in our lives we will miss her as we know that you will….She lived a beautiful life and shared that beauty with all that she met. We feel so blessed to have known her. She loved and she was loved by all who knew her.
Sue and Richard.
Our lives were all brighter because of her light.
I will miss my dear, sweet friend. Rest in peace, Noel.
Noel was my partner in crime and my dear friend. I will truly miss her. Rest in peace, sweet Noel.
Noel enriched the lives of others fortunate enough to know & love her. Love & prayers, Rosie Brekke
Clark-Susan and I are so saddened by your loss. You and your family have been blessed, but now suffer greatly. Your thoughts posted on this blog reveal a deep love, and now, a profound loss. From us, and on behalf of all your Tulsa Cascia Hall high school class of 1964, please accept our sincere sympathy and know that we will keep Noel, you, Luke, and John in our prayers and thoughts. Steve Pattison
Stanton family
Our prayers are with you and our hearts are heavy yet glad to know she is at peace
dana dona
Clark, no words will help right now, but I’ll give it a try. One of the most insightful quotes I have ever seen, strangely enough, it’s attributed to “anonymous”, goes like this. “The pain you feel now is part of the love you felt then.” Given that, I know that you and your sons are hurting a great deal right now. Just know that Ann touched a lot of people in her life and all of those folks are also saddened to hear of her passing.
May Ann rest in peace.
The poem is so beautiful and so inspiring. We are so sorry for your loss and our wonderful memories of Ann will always be cherished. We hold you and your entire family in our prayers.
There are no words…I am so very sorry for your loss.
Clark, my heart is saddened by your loss of such a blessedly lovely companion. I feel honored to had known her. My prayers continue floating across water to you and your sons.
Mary
What a blessing for Noel and for you to have had these last days and precious final moments together. How thankful I am that God in His goodness let me have this amazing woman as my friend.
Clark, Luke, and John you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Our heartfelt condolences to Clark and his family. It was an honor to have known Noel. Her spirit was vibrant. We will miss her in our book club, and in our lives. We will keep you in our prayers. Gerri and Vince
So blessed to be apart of her life. Love and prayers Kathy and Karl holtsnider
So very sorry to hear. Noel was so kind and caring. It was an honor to know and work with her at Salesian High. My thoughts and prayers to all who knew and loved her.
Clark and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Clark,
We were saddened to hear that Noel died but know that she is in a wonderful place, being the saint we thought she was ( and is). We are so glad that both of you could be on our Holy Land trip, and we will never forget yours and Noelle’s strength, courage and love. It was an inspiration to all of us, and we will never forget the example you set before us. Special blessings to you, Clark, and your two sons. Jennifer and Tom Hensley
Clark,
I was Noel’s roommate at the Mother House in Kansas. She is a blessing to all of us. I’m so touched by her life and death. Dear Noel, will you share with us the secrets you now understand.