Marie-Therese Noiset

Marie-Therese Noiset (nee Pensis), 93, of Acworth, Georgia passed away on September 23, 2025 and we are going to deeply miss her. Sometimes in life, you meet an exceptional person. Sometimes in life, you don't realize it, especially when it is your mother or grandmother. But, we are lucky. We got to experience her love for a lot of years and so came to understand the force of nature that she was and the exceptional warmth, humor and grace she bestowed on us

Born in La Hulpe, Belgium, on March 31, 1932, she survived the Nazi occupation as a child before immigrating to the United States in 1951 at the age of 19. She crossed the Atlantic on the Mauritania II along with her entire immediate family including her parents, her four brothers and their spouses, as well as her nieces, nephews and grandmother. In February 1954, she married her beloved husband, Willy Noiset, in New York City, whom she had first dated in Belgium. Together they raised their 7 children in Windsor, Connecticut, creating a lively and loving household.

 Marie-Therese began her career teaching at The Ethel Walker School in 1970, while simultaneously earning a Master of Arts degree from Trinity College. After her husband’s passing, she continued to pursue higher education, earning a PhD in 16th century French Literature from the University of Connecticut in 1987. She then moved, undaunted, to Charlotte to join the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), where she achieved the rank of full professor. She taught at UNCC for 26 years until the age of 82.

A respected scholar, she published a book on the 16th century French writer, Marie de Gournay, translated several works including Jules Verne’s L’Île à hélice (The Self-Propelled Island) and established the first translation program at UNCC. She also served as Chief Reader for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, overseeing the annual French AP exams.

 After retiring, Marie-Therese spent her last decade in a new home, living near her son in Acworth, Georgia. She leaves her brother, her seven children, their spouses and her fourteen grandchildren with a legacy that inspires them all. She led a life well-lived. She had something special that we can only hope to emulate. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Save the Children.