Sister Marie Wolf

Sister Marie Wolf

“This is what God asks of you, only this: to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:

“When you heard the reading, did you think, perhaps, that this is how Sister Marie Wolf lived? The reading was one of Sister Marie’s favorites, and it is quite possible that she used it as a blueprint for her life. Those who knew her well will testify that indeed she did try always to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with her God,” said Sister Suzanne Brezette in her commentary for Sister Marie, who died Dec. 2.

One of four children of Herman and Margaret Mulryan Wolf, Eleanor Marie Wolf was born March 20, 1917, in Indianapolis. She attended St. Anthony Grade School and St. John Academy, both in Indianapolis, and graduated from Providence Aspirancy, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She entered the Congregation Feb. 2, 1935, and received the religious name Sister Marie Elvire. She professed first and perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1937, and 1943, respectively. Sister Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education from Indiana University.

Sister Marie began teaching at St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1937. Her other teaching and administrative ministries in Indiana included St. Thomas Aquinas, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Patrick, St. Luke and Holy Spirit, Indianapolis; St. Joseph, Hammond; St. John, Vincennes; and St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington. Sister Marie’s pedagogical ministries in Illinois included St. Mel, Chicago; St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette; and Immaculate Conception, Norwood Park.

In 1976, Sister Marie entered a ministry sphere as a pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish, Indianapolis. For the next two decades, she continued her ministry as a pastoral associate in Indianapolis at St. John, St. Joan of Arc and St. Christopher. In 1999, Sister Marie returned to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

“Perhaps it was her take-charge attitude that made her not only an excellent principal but also a dearly loved and respected pastoral associate,” shared Sister Suzanne. “Whatever assignment Sister Marie received, she was completely committed to her ministry. The people loved her and often found her to be a very stabilizing influence in their lives. Parishioners found her most gracious and concerned, especially with the shut-ins whom she visited regularly.

“Sister Marie was important to every aspect of parish life. Her organizational skills were invaluable to the day-to-day record keeping and other operational tasks. She was untiring in her pastoral duties of ministering to the ill and homebound. Sister Marie knew that each person was important, and she showed sincere interest and concern for everyone.

“So much for statistics; now I’ll say something about Sister Marie, the person,” continued Sister Suzanne. “Sister Marie was never a robust individual; in fact, some describe her as being sickly most of her life. It was sometimes said of her that she must have had some cat in her because she seemed to have had nine lives. Despite all that, Sister Marie loved life and adventure — risking a hot-air balloon ride even after she was in her 70s.”

The Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Marie was celebrated Dec. 6, with the Rev. Daniel Hopcus presiding. She is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Wolf Knott, Muncie, Ind. Both of her brothers preceded her in death.