Sr. Mary Charleen Weiler

Sister Mary Charleen Weiler, age 86, passed into the arms of our loving God on Tuesday, October 2, 2025, at Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Sister Charleen, born December 2, 1938, in Athens, Wisconsin, was named and baptized Romilda Ann. She was the second youngest of nine children born to Clem and Mary Weiler along with five brothers (Raywood, Gerald, Edgar, Vernon and Gordon) and two sisters (Bernice and Elaine). Four years later, another sister, Julitta, would be welcomed into the family. In 1943, Romilda Ann’s parents moved to a home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, only a few miles from Mother of Sorrows Convent. She became acquainted with the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother at the Mother of Perpetual Help School in Milwaukee, where they were her teachers. Sister Charleen noted that in considering the choice of a religious community, she was especially attracted by the SSMs spirit of simplicity. She often ran errands for the Sisters and loved to join them in singing the early morning mass. Sister Regis Keiter was her ninth-grade teacher and later her mistress as a novice. Sister Jeanine Retzer and Sister Roseann Koskie were both classmates at Mother of Perpetual Help School. In September 1953, Romilda Ann entered the Aspirancy at Mother of Sorrows Covent, Milwaukee; where she completed three more years of high school and two years of college. In July 1969, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English and History) from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee. Sister Charleen was invested at Mother of Sorrows Covent on August 12, 1956, taking the name of Sister Mary Charleen Weiler. She professed her first vows in 1958 and final vows in 1963. Sister Charleen will be remembered for her ministries as a teacher since 1958 teaching youth in grades 6-7-8 in Catholic Parish Grade Schools, “a fulfillment of my heart’s desire for as long as I can recall.” Her brother Gordon stated: “Sister was born with a piece of chalk in her hand.” She taught in the following schools: St. Francis de Sales, Lake Geneva, WI (1958-1963), St. Cecilia, Thiensville, WI (1963-1965), St. Patrick’s, Estherville, IA (1965-1966), St. Theresa, Eagle River, WI (principal and teacher 1966-1968), St. Olaf’s, Eau Claire, WI (1969-1979), St. Cecilia, Thiensville, WI (1979-1980), St. Stephen’s, Milwaukee, WI (1980-1981), Mother of Perpetual Help, Milwaukee, WI (1981-1992; 1993-1998) and St. Pius X, Wauwatosa, WI (1998-2011). Sister Charleen had another passion in life, the development of her gift of music. She had the privilege of studying music under the patient tutoring of Sister Carmelina Koller who taught her to play the piano and organ. It was with joy that she was able to have children’s choirs in the schools where she taught from 1958-1980. After teaching herself the guitar and string bass, she enjoyed having the folk choir at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, St. Anne’s Home for the Elderly and with the Franciscan Chords under the direction of Sister Michel Malolepsy. Another musical endeavor happened in her life in 1986 when a group of SSM sisters in the Milwaukee area formed a band which they named the SSM Upbeats. They played instruments and sang to entertain the sisters at the motherhouse in Milwaukee and then in Oshkosh. Sister Charleen coordinated the efforts, played the string bass and sang with Sister Lucille Flores. Some of Sister Charleen’s hobbies were reading, visiting with friends and family, walking, praying, crocheting small towels to give as gifts, watching TV and of course, singing. Sister Charleen is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Bernice Boxrucker and Julitta Griffin, and her brothers Ray, Gerald, Edgar and Vernon. She is survived by her sister Elaine Gross and her brother Gordon Weiler. Homecoming will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at SSM Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8th, followed by burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Oshkosh. Father Jim Shea, S.J., will be the presider. Fiss & Bills-Poklasny Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.

Sr. Mary Charleen Weiler

December 2, 1938 - October 2, 2025

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