Sister Mary Louise Doyle was born on August 12, 1929, to Donald Joseph Doyle and Mary Catherine (McDonald) Doyle. Her mother and father had emigrated from Nova Scotia and resettled in Dorchester, Mass. She was one of six siblings, three boys and two other girls; “our parents,” she recalled, “were very good to us.”
Growing up, her family lived directly across from St. Mark’s School and her family was very involved with the parish and the school. Her father often helped with construction and maintenance projects. After that, she attended a Catholic high school in South Boston. It was at school that she first encountered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. “The Sisters used to talk to us about doing good things,” she says. “I thought I was one of the people who had to be a Sister.”
Sister Mary entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur on August 4, 1948. After entering, she went on to enjoy a long career as an educator. She served as both a teacher and a principal at schools throughout Massachusetts. She loved working with the children in her classroom and sought always to lend a helping hand to people in need.
Upon looking back at her many years of service at the time of her 75th Jubilee, Sister Mary reflected with gratitude for her life as a Sister of Notre Dame. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to know these things, and to live with other people who are so good, doing things for other people."
Sister Mary Doyle went home to her good God on July 17, 2023. Her funeral was held on Thursday, July 20, at the Queen of Peace Chapel, in Ipswich, Mass.
Enjoy this video interview, conducted at the time of Sister Mary's 75th Jubilee:
