Sister Marjorie Wiesnet, SSS, of Clarence, passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the age of 89. Sister Marjorie served as a professional social worker at several local agencies.
Margaret Wiesnet was born in Buffalo as the third daughter of Albert and Magdalena (Berger) Wiesnet on Dec. 22, 1934.
She attended grade school at St. Gerard’s. By eighth grade she felt a call for religious life, so she continued her studies at St Nicholas Academy. It was during her high school years that her oldest sister, Rita, entered the cloistered Dominicans in Buffalo, taking the name Sister Albert. On this occasion one of her great aunts, Sister Infant Jesus, a Sister of Charity, shared with the family that she had been praying for religious vocation for her female relatives.
By the time she graduated from St. Nicholas Academy the religious vocation was no longer on Margaret’s mind. Instead she attended a post-high school technical institute and received an associate degree. In the meantime, a very close friend announced that she was considering joining Mother Cabrini’s Sisters in New York City to work for the poor there. Margaret was sorry to lose her companionship. So, when she saw an announcement for a house blessing at the Sisters of Social Service, she suggested that they attend together, thinking that her friend might join this local religious community, which would allow them to stay close. It was Margaret who ultimately joined the Sisters of Social Service in 1956. Later, she recalled this decision in this way: “Before my entrance into the Sisters of Social Service, I was not very conscious of the Holy Spirit, although I feel that the Holy Spirit led me to the final decision to enter religious life.”
She received the religious name of Marjorie. She took her first vows in 1960 and the final vows in 1968. After her profession of vows her first assignment led her to St. Anthony Parish where her ministry was catechetical education.
Since the primary ministry of the SSS community was social work, she took up studies in that field. After earning a master’s degree in social work in 1976, Sister Marjorie sought to integrate the two important aspects of her life and ministry, so she took a course in the integration of spirituality and counseling.
She worked as a social worker first at Catholic Charities, then at the Erie County Health Department, and finally up to her retirement she worked on foster care and adoption cases at Friendship House.
After her retirement, Sister Marjorie ministered in the rectory of St Aloysius Parish.
Within her community, she served as federation delegate. In 1997, she was chosen to be a chapter delegate and represented the SSS at various boards and committees in Buffalo.
She spent her last years at the SSJ Residence in Clarence.
Sister Marjorie was survived by her sister Marie Jansen. A funeral Mass was held Tuesday, July 30, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Clarence Residence.