Sister Noreen McLaughlin, age 97, of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, died on December 1, 2025, at the Motherhouse in Oldenburg, Indiana. Born Mary Patricia McLaughlin on October 18, 1928, in New Albany, Indiana, she was the oldest of five with one sister and three brothers, born to the late Thomas and Agnes (nee: Huber) McLaughlin. Her father was a manager for New Albany Box and Basket Company, and her mother was a housewife.
Sister Noreen attended school at St. Mary’s in New Albany through grade school, then, with no Catholic High Schools available, she attended New Albany High School. She continued her education at Marian College (now University) in Indianapolis, Indiana and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Sr Noreen entered the convent on September 8, 1946, and made her final vows on August 12, 1954.
Sister Noreen spent 58 years in education, and ministry, having taught at St. Frances de Sales and Holy Rosary Schools in Indianapolis and St. Agnes School in Evansville. She served 23 of those years in Papua, New Guinea and another six years in Kagua, New Guinea. While in Kagua, Sister Noreen was part of the Formation Team that helped develop the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in their ministry. Upon returning to the States, Sister Noreen returned to New Albany to care for her parents. After both parents had passed, she was called to work in Campton, Kentucky serving the people of Appalachia.
Sister Noreen returned to the Motherhouse in 2006, where she found so many blessings, with endless opportunities for her to see God.
Sister Noreen is survived by family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Betty Ann (Clarence) Jones, brothers Thomas (Geri) McLaughlin and James McLaughlin, and sister-in-law Susan McLaughlin. She is survived by her brother Robert McLaughlin, sister-in-law Betty McLaughlin, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Prayer and visitation will be Tuesday, December 9th, at 10:00 a.m. followed by Mass at 11:00 a.m., all at the convent chapel. The burial will be at the Motherhouse Cemetery in Oldenburg. For those unable to attend, services will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/wyUiRZUyF50?feature=share
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana 47036 Donate Online – SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS (oldenburgfranciscans.org). For online condolences, go to www.weigelfh.com.