Barbara Brigitte Erna Julie Noel formerly of Washington D.C. and for the past five years of Elgin, N.D., suffered a massive stroke from which she never regained consciousness and died peacefully in a coma the 9th of September as her children and grandchildren gathered to her side.

She was born on February 24, 1913 as the first of two children of Theodore and Lea Schuchard in Berlin, Germany. As a school girl she wrote poetry and excelled in theatrical performances.

As Nazism began rearing its head in Germany, Barbara was amongst the first to notice the sinister anti-Semitic campaigns in progress and developed powerfully strong feelings against Hitler's machinations. In 1933, she responded to a marriage proposal from Dr. Hsü Dau-lin who she had met while he was studying for his degree in Constitutional Law at the University of Berlin.

Unaccompanied she took a steamer to China where she married her Chinese suitor.

In Nanjing she learned Chinese, and with greater difficulty, Chinese customs while her husband became private secretary to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. In 1937 Barbara, then heavy with child, took their firstborn, Xiaohu (Joan) to her mother in Berlin, as her husband remained by the side of the Generalissimo. There, Barbara gave birth to Xiaoyu (Katherine).

When Dr. Hsü was appointed Chargé d'Affaires to Italy the following year, Barbara took their two daughters and rejoined him in Rome, there to begin a four-year stint as a young diplomat's wife, mastering French, English and Italian for their busy schedule amongst kings, princes, nobles and diplomats. At home she ran the large staff of the Chinese Chancellery, organizing state dinners and other diplomatic functions.

In 1941, when WWII broke in the Pacific and China severed relations with Italy, Barbara went with her husband to Geleshan mountains just outside of China's war-time Capital Chungking. There she gave birth to their son Xiaorui (George). After Japan's surrender in 1945, the family moved back east, living in Shanghai.

In 1949 with the Chinese Communists advance on Shanghai, Barbara once more took the children to safer heavens, moving to the U.S. as her husband remained behind, eventually following the government to Taiwan which he was then unable to leave. Separated for five years, alone with three growing children in Washington, D. C., and unable to gain US citizenship under a Chinese passport, Barbara eventually got a divorce from her husband who was still detained in Taiwan. Barbara spent her nights learning shorthand and dictation, working days as girl-Friday at the Chinese Military Attachés' Office, reversing her role in Rome with aplomb and dignity. Single-handedly she raised her children through college and, after gaining her U.S. citizenship, worked at the District of Columbia's public libraries, a job she hugely enjoyed till retirement in 1975.
In 1955 she married Henry Noel of the Library of Congress and American University, and lived in Georgetown. In 2001 Henry suffered a debilitating stroke, and Barbara moved him to Elgin, N.D. for the nurturing care of her physician son, Dr. George S. Hsu and daughter-in-law, Kathy, and to enjoy their grandchildren. Nine months later, Henry passed away and is buried in Elgin.

Barbara is survived by her three children, 16 grandchildren and four great-grand children. Barbara's children and grandchildren wish to express their deepest gratitude to Kathy Hsu, Bernice Fischer and Victoria Oliver for so lovingly taking such great care of Oma.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, Elgin, ND, at 10:00 am. Rev. Jerry Lee will officiate and burial will follow at the Zion Cemetery in Elgin. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Democratic National Committee.