Carmela, as he was known, was born in La Palma del Condado (Huelva) on 23 April 1933. From a Christian family, she soon got involved in the activities of his parish. In 1958 she married Tomas Salvador Noguera Cepeda. They had six children who were raised in the faith. Their daughter is now a nun of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross and one of their sons, named Juan Bosco, is the lay director of the Salesian College in La Palma del Condado.
Her immense charity was lived in a profound experience of the Christian faith. She belonged to the Vivencias de Fe (Faith Experiences) group which was a school of the Gospel and prayer. She participated assiduously in the life of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). Not surprisingly, therefore, she felt a special affection for Don Bosco’s Madonna, because of her Salesian spirituality.
From her writings we can see that she was a woman who had established a true intimacy with God through prayer. Her trust in the Lord was also reflected in times of suffering: "the life of the Christian is a struggle that lasts a lifetime", "simple and humble prayer unites us to God and gives us strength."
Her Christian life flourished in the home, through her activities as a housewife, in a spirit of sacrifice and generous service, strengthening the domestic Church which is the family. But her testimony went beyond the home. She was a catechist and had a great love for the poor and the sick towards whom she showed great charity.
"It is worth pointing out that she was a married woman, a member of ADMA," says Fr Pier Luigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family. "She is proof that ADMA is a path to holiness and apostolate with special attention to the family that is relevant today."
