- Sister Marylene (Frances) Weber, age 83, formerly of Appleton, passed away on Monday, June 2, 2008. She was born on October 29, 1925, to the late John and Caroline (Blatz) Weber. She attended St Joseph's Parish and School. After graduation, she joined the Notre Dame Convent. She was ordained as a nun in 1945 and served for 63 years. Sister Marylene had a lifelong love of baking and enjoyed baking for her sisters at the convent.
She is survived by her sisters: Sally (Harold) Eickstadt, Thelma Ryba and Irene Liebhauser; Brothers: Joseph and Ervin Weber; sister-in-law, Audrey Weber and 38 nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two infant sisters: Mary and Eileen; infant brother, Clement; brothers: Edward, Raymond, Gregor, Johnny and Norbert; sisters-in-law: Edna, Angie and Josephine; brothers-in-law: Orville Ryba and Kenneth Liebhauser; nephew, Robert, and niece Diana.
Services for Sister Marylene will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Holy Family Chapel at Notre Dame of Elm Grove located on 13105 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove, WI. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.
SSND
Frances Agnes Weber was born October 29, 1925, in Appleton, WI, to John and Caroline Weber. She was the seventh of 14 children. In 1988 she wrote, "Eleven of us are still living in and around the Fox River Valley.
"At one time we lived on a farm of one hundred twenty acres, of which my dad planted eight in carrots. Everyone in the family except myself liked to work in the fields; I chose the house chores and prided myself in cooking and baking. At harvest time, our main task was to get the carrots to the canning factory.
"Because I was afraid of school, I started first grade only at the age of seven. It was not until eighth grade that I really began to think about my vocation."
After finishing eighth grade, she entered the Aspiranture at Longwood Academy, Chicago, IL, and remained there from 1939 until 1941. When Frances entered the candidature, she continued much the same as she had as an aspirant, and after four months was sent to Marinette, WI, for a year and a half, helping and "learning" from the housekeeper there. She recalled that her second year as a candidate prepared her for "those peaceful and happy days to be remembered for a lifetime."
"Knowing how much I liked the work in the kitchen, I was assigned as cook and at times as baker in large communities, the motherhouse on Milwaukee Street and then Mequon for 31 years. Yes, I had my share of ups and downs in religious life," she wrote. "Often I had to learn the hard way, but God provided a Sister from whom I could seek advice. God always took care of the rest. Wherever I could, I tried to bring joy to our large community of 200 to 300 sisters."
Her next assignment was as chief baker at Holy Childhood, Harbor Springs, MI, about which she wrote, "My work has been blessed as I recall the years spent helping feed the Indian children in the boarding school and as I now continue to bake for the children who attend our day school and day care center." It is no wonder that her breads and cookies were treats for all ages, for she prayed that each loaf of bread and each batch of cookies might release souls from purgatory.
When the sisters left Holy Childhood in 1996, Sister Marylene decided to retire at Mount Calvary. Though not responsible for all the baking there, her surprise cookies surely delighted all. In 2005 Sister came to Notre Dame of Elm Grove where she died on June 2, 2008.
– Alice Lechnir, SSND
During her years of ministry, she served as a cook and a baker. Her positions included Our Lady of Lourdes, Marinette, Wisconsin; the SSND Motherhouse at both its Milwaukee and Mequon locations, and Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs, Michigan. She retired in 1996.
Sister Marylene's ministry locations were:
Motherhouse, Milwaukee, WI - 1945-1959 (Assistant Cook)
Motherhouse, Mequon, WI - 1959-1976 (Baker)
Holy Childhood School, Harbor Springs, MI - 1976-1996 (Assistant Cook and Baker)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Convent, Mount Calvary, WI - 1996-2001 (Retired)
Havenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Milwaukee, WI - 2001-2005
Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, WI - 2005-present
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1925 - 2008 (82 years)
Religious Vows
