Sister Marjorie Wiesnet SSS

December 22, 1934 – July 24, 2024

Through Him, With Him, in Him and by Him.

Sister Marjorie (Margaret)Wiesnet was born in Buffalo as the third daughter of Albert and Magdalena (nee Berger) Wiesnet on December 22, 1934.

She attended grade school at Saint Gerard’s Parish School. In eighth grade she felt a call for religious life; therefore 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 (and took 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 the Academy the religious vocation was no longer on her 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 see her go so far away and thus lose her companionship. So, when she saw a newspaper announcement for a house blessing at the Sisters of Social Service, she suggested that they attend together the occasion, thinking that her friend might join this local religious community, which would allow them to remain friends and companions. 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; the Foundress of the SSS Sr. Margaret Slachta was still alive and lived in Buffalo and thus the tradition of being given a religious name was still in practice at the time.

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 Sr. Marjorie sought ways of how 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 Sr. 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 (in Kosice) and she represented the SSS at various boards and committees in Buffalo.

She spent her last years at the SSJ Residence in Clarence.

Sister Marjorie Wiesnet, SSS, age 89, of Clarence, New York passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. daughter of the late Albert and Magdalena Berger Wiesnet; sister of the late Mary Albert, O.P. and Marie Jansen. Friends may call Monday, July 29th from 2-4 pm at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Clarence Residence, 4975 Strickler Rd., Clarence. A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Marjorie will be held Tuesday, July 30, at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Clarence Residence at 11:00 AM. Sister Marjorie was a Professional Social worker at several local agencies. Online condolences to www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com