Women line up in the alley that leads to Noel House, where the doors will open at 5:30pm. They say they brave the line, even in the rain, to be sure to get a bed for the night.

Noel Dennis, 1927—1991

Women line up in the alley that leads to Noel House, where the doors will open at 5:30pm. They say they brave the line, even in the rain, to be sure to get a bed for the night.Noel Dennis was one of the earliest residents of the Catholic Community Services Winter Women’s Shelter that grew into Noel House.  She was quiet, but unbelievably generous.  She gathered magazines, clothing, and other things to give to her homeless sisters in the shelter.  She used to sit in the reclining chair in the shelter lobby, and often fell asleep there.  When Noel died on August 4th, 1991, we got a call from the Medical Examiners Office.  Noel had named the shelter as her next of kin.  The women of the shelter later chose to name the program in memory of this precious individual, saying, “we shall always remember her gentle and caring nature.”


Featured Leaf August 2017

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