Franciscan Sister Marie A. Theis, 101, died Oct. 9 at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in the convent cemetery. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral.
Born on a farm in Eden Valley on Feb. 17, 1918, Sister Marie was the oldest of eight children of Frank and Mary (Stein) Theis. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls on Aug. 12, 1939, and given the name Sister Mary Susanne. She was a Franciscan Sister for 80 years.
Sister Marie served in the domestic area at the St. Cloud Children’s Home, the residences of Bishop Joseph Busch and Bishop Peter Bartholome and at the Dwelling Place, a retreat center in Sauk Rapids.
She later taught at Catholic schools in Waite Park, Elk River and Holy Spirit in St. Cloud. Following her years of teaching, she cared for the sick and elderly in their homes.
Sister Marie is survived by her sisters, RoseAnn Kerzman and Marion Nohner; her brother Francis and his wife, Helen; brother-in-law, Paul Kerzman; many nieces and nephews and her Franciscan community. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Florence Rademacher and Margaret Kerzman; brothers, Laurence and Sylvester; brothers-in-law, Aloys Radermacher, Ralph Kerzman and Peter Nohner; nephews, Kenneth Theis and Wayne Nohner; and her niece, Julie Theis.
Arrangements are by Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service. Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.