Sister Marie Catherine Wise R.S.M.

Sister Marie Catherine was born in Tiffin, Ohio to Henry and Loretta (Roth) Wise. One of 12 children, she and her siblings learned from their parents a love of family and a love of their faith. The parish St. Mary’s Tiffin Ohio was a center for their spiritual life and devotions.

At a young age Sister experienced a call to religious life. With her parents’ permission she entered Our Lady of the Pines Aspirant School (a high school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy for young women interested in pursuing a religious vocation) and after completing high school Sister Marie Catherine entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 7, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her final vows were professed in 1953.

Sister Marie Catherine always wanted to be a nurse and after making first vows she began classes to become a Registered Nurse. She graduated from Mercy School of Nursing (now Mercy College of Ohio) Toledo, Ohio in 1953. This led to many years of caregiving and service at Mercy hospitals in Toledo, Tiffin, Hamilton, Springfield, Oregon, and Lima, Ohio. Her assignments included operating nurse, emergency room nurse, Pediatric Supervisor and Nursing Services Supervisor. From 1986 to 1993 Sister Marie Catherine served as President and CEO of Mercy Hospital Tiffin. She continued her career and served as Housing Manager for Charles Meadow, a low-cost housing complex for the elderly from 1994-2005.

In 2008, Sister moved to St. Bernardine Home. Although retired from active ministry, Sister Marie Catherine continued to help others giving of her time and talents especially sewing. Her prayers included the needs of her community, her family, and national and world concerns.

Sister Marie Catherine is survived by her religious community, the Sisters of Mercy, her sister Alma Wurm, sisters-in-laws Doris Wise, Barbara Wise, Mary Wise; and brother-in-law James Clouse and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Bernard, Ambrose, Louis, James and Luke; and sisters Kathleen, Henrietta, Adaline Heitz, Margaret Kimmet and Imelda Clouse.

Visitation is Wednesday August 24, 2016 at St Bernardine Home from 3:00 to 7:30 and on Thursday Aug 25, 2016 until the time of the funeral. The funeral is Thursday August 25, 2016 at 4:00 at St Bernardine Home followed by burial in Our Lady of the Pines Cemetery.