Sister Mary Vianney Weier

Sister Mary Vianney Weier, 92, died on April 4, 2017, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.

On the feast of Saint Francis, October 4, 1924, Helene was born at St. Josephs Hospital, Dodgeville, Wis., to Francis Frank and Nora (Coffey) Weier, the seventh of 12 children. When she was baptized, she was given the name Helene Frances. Her parents were hardworking farmers of German-Irish decent, with a deep faith they imparted to their children. God will provide, was the phrase often heard in the Weier home. Their home was the center of activity for relatives, friends and neighbors.

Helene attended a one-room school named the Weier School, as it was built on their property. She spent one year at the Dodgeville High School and the remaining three years at St. Francis High School, Little Falls.

Inspired by her older sisters, Sisters Lenore and Camillus, Helene entered St. Francis Convent in her senior year. On entering the novitiate, Helene was given the name Sister Mary Vianney. She made her final vows on August 12, 1947. She was a Franciscan Sister for 74 years. Other siblings also entered the Franciscan Order: Sister Elizabeth (Urban) entered St. Francis Convent, Helen became a Poor Clare and one brother, Thomas, became a Capuchin Friar.

Sister Vianney became a registered nurse and later a surgical nurse. She enjoyed the many years she served the sick and dying always looking out for the good of the patient. Beginning in 1989, Sister Vianney moved into pastoral care. She felt it was a deep privilege to be present at the time of a patients death. Sister Vianney continued her pastoral care as she ministered to the elderly sisters at St. Francis Convent. She was known for her compassion and understanding of each individual sisters needs.

Sister Vianney was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings: Father Thomas, Leo, Sister Lenore, Sister Camillus, Marie Zweifel, Gerald, Benedict, Sister Elizabeth, Vincent and Lawrence. Surviving her is Sister Mary Helen, OSC, of Minneapolis, nieces and nephews and her Franciscan Community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on Saturday, April 8, at 1:30 p.m. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on Friday, April 7, from 4-8 p.m., with a Franciscan prayer service at 7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on April 8, at 1:30 p.m.

Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.