Sister Marjorie Wisor age 91

Sister Marjorie Wisor, 91, passed away March 20, 2026, at The Alverno in Clinton, IA. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at The Canticle, 841 13th Ave N in Clinton, with Rev. Robert McAleer presiding. A livestream link is available on the “In Memory” page at www.clintonfranciscans.com. Visitation will be at The Canticle from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, with a rosary at 3:45 p.m. and wake service at 6:00 p.m. Burial will be in St. Irenaeus Calvary Cemetery. Pape Funeral Home is assisting.
Marjorie Ann was born August 28, 1934, in Clinton County, the thirteenth of fourteen children of Roman and Clara (Manikowski) Wisor, both of whom were immigrants. She had seven brothers and six sisters. She was baptized at St. Patrick Church in Villa Nova on September 2, 1934.
She attended White School # 6 in Clinton County and Mount St. Clare Academy, Clinton, graduating in 1952. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent on September 8, 1952. She received the name Sister Marian at her reception on June 16, 1953. She later resumed her baptismal name. She made her first vows on August 12, 1955, and her final profession on August 12, 1958. Among her novitiate classmates were Sisters Luke Sondgeroth, Louisa Dwyer, Joan Holland, Bernice Dunk, Phyllis Morris, Harriet Rump, and Rose Catherine Biittner.
Sister Marjorie received an A.A. degree from Mount St. Clare College, Clinton; a B.A. in French from San Diego College for Women, San Diego, CA; a M.A. in French Language and Civilization from Sorbonne, University of Paris, Paris, France; and a M.A. in Religious Studies from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. She also studied at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. She held a pre-professional teaching certificate in Iowa, a general elementary teaching certificate in California, and an adult education and literacy certificate in Missouri.
She served as a teacher at schools in El Cajon, CA, and Victor, Fonda, and Clinton, IA. She then went on to study in France. While there, Sister Marjorie visited Trosly and met Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche, an international federation of people with and without intellectual disabilities living together in community. After volunteering with the L’Arche community in Trosly-Breuil, France, Sister Marjorie worked to establish a L’Arche community in Clinton, serving as director from 1974 to 1986. After, she served as Director of Formation for the Sisters of St. Francis.
She was a French instructor at Mount St. Clare College, Clinton; Wadhams Hall, Ogdensburg, NY; and St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. She served in pastoral ministry in Madison and Mosinee, WI, and Paducah, KY. In the St. Louis area, she also ministered as an adult literacy tutor and Literacy Coordinator, caregiver for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and Director of the Carondelet Family Literacy Program.
Sister Marjorie continued to live in St. Louis doing volunteer work until 2017, when she retired to The Canticle in Clinton. She oversaw the library at The Canticle and renewed her friendship with the L’Arche Clinton residents. She moved to The Alverno in November 2023 and remained there until her death on March 20, 2026.
Her concern for people living on the margins was reflected in her membership of several peace advocacy groups. She participated in prayer vigils and public witnesses. Sister Marjorie also enjoyed flowers, especially sunflowers, and loved reading, listening to classical music, and coloring mandalas. She shared in all the activities offered at The Alverno as she appreciated being around others.
Sister Marjorie is survived by her nieces and nephews and the Sisters of St. Francis with whom she shared life for 73 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Francis (Mary), Joseph (Bernadette), Bernard, Leonard, John, Raymond, and Robert (LaVon); sisters and brothers-in-law, Clara (Laurent) Nugent, Teresa (Charles) Dolan Cotter, Mary (Jene) Jost, Alberta (Steve) Sharnik, Loretta Wisor, and Mary Martha Wisor; and brother-in-law, Bud Dolan.