Sister Margaret Ann Wolbach, after serving the Lord with joy for 75 years, went home to the Lord on May 8, 2025.
Sister Margaret Ann was the second youngest child of five born to Ben and Mary Wolbach in Omaha, Nebraska. Growing up in a loving family whose Catholic faith and Polish roots influenced her entire life, Sister felt drawn to her Franciscan community by the joyful example of the Sisters who taught at St. Francis of Assisi Parish School in Omaha. Accompanying her mother to the convent to help cook for the Sisters also enabled Sister to get acquainted with convent life.
Upon entering the convent in 1947, after honing her domestic skills at Chaminade Prep College, Sister Margaret earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Webster College in St Louis, Missouri. Thus began her 40 year ministry as Catholic school educator and principal. While her initial teaching ministry began in St Louis, Sister went on to serve in schools located in Iowa, New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, and Illinois. Upon retiring from teaching, Sister Margaret continued active ministry as a clerical assistant, sacristan, receptionist, as well as switchboard operator. In 2005, Sister was blessed to retire to Mother of Perpetual Help Residence at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services in St Louis, where she enjoyed reading, walking, visiting others on campus, enjoying the view from her window, and listening to music. She was able to recapture her childhood fondness for softball by becoming an avid Cardinal fan, whether cheering for the team on television or listening to the game on the radio.
Sister “Maggie” always held a special devotion to the Blessed Mother in her heart. Her favorite prayer and song were “Hail, Holy Queen.” These are words she sang often and prayed daily. As Sister’s 75th Jubilee approached, she said of herself, “I want people to know that I’m a kind, gentle soul who likes to laugh, and I am grateful for my vocation as a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.”
Sister Maggie was truly a kind and gentle soul whose peaceful Franciscan presence was a reflection of the God she loved and served so faithfully. Sister will be buried among her Franciscan Sisters at Resurrection Cemetery in Shrewsbury, Missouri. Memorials will be accepted by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help over the phone (314-965-3700), via mail (335 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122), or through the website, (www.fsolph.org). Please email SrCheryl@fsolph.org with questions.
Dear Sister Maggie, we commend you into the hands of our Blessed Mother and into eternal life with her Beloved Son. Pokoj i dobro, dear Sister!
