Rest in Peace, J.C. native Sister Rose Miriam Wegman SSND

Jefferson City native Sister Rose Miriam Wegman of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, 92, died peacefully in the early hours of Jan. 31, at Anna House, The Sarah Community, in Bridgeton.

The eighth and youngest child of Leo and Rose Ann (Westerman) Wegman, Rosemary was born March 15, 1931, in Jefferson City.

She grew up in a happy home with an older sister and two older brothers.

Rosemary attended elementary and the first two years of secondary school at Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City, staffed by Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

For her junior year, she enrolled at the former St. Peter High School in Jefferson City where she was taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND).

Following graduation, she entered the SSND candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, on Sept. 1, 1948.

As a second-year candidate, she taught second grade at Ss. Peter and Paul School in St. Louis, during the second semester.

She was received into the novitiate Aug. 1, 1950, and was given the name Rose Miriam.

She pronounced first vows Aug. 2, 1951, and final vows Aug. 2, 1957.

Sister Rose Miriam earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in in 1955; a master’s degree in English from Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1962; and a master’s degree in secondary education administration from Saint Louis University in St. Louis in 1969.

After profession, Sr. Rose Miriam spent 10 years as a classroom teacher at Our Lady of Sorrows School in St. Louis; Redemptorist High School in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Duchesne High School in St. Charles, Missouri.

She then became principal at Duchesne High School for three years.

In 1964, Sr. Rose Miriam began her ministry as an associate superintendent in the St. Louis Archdiocesan School Office.

In this position, she ministered as a consultant for secondary schools and for language arts in the elementary and secondary schools of the archdiocese.

In 1971, Sr. Rose Miriam was elected to the SSND’s former St. Louis Provincial Council.

During her time as councilor, she also served as the provincial treasurer.

She was one of the founding members of the SSND Interprovincial Finance Committee and oversaw the entrance of the St. Louis SSND into the Social Security program.

After two terms as provincial councilor, she was invited to the Generalate in Rome to minister as the general treasurer for the international congregation.

She was willing to do it provided she received academic training.

During the following year, she studied at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, taking courses in accounting, Italian and German.

In September 1980, she left for Rome.

She was the assistant treasurer for two years and then assumed the duties of general treasurer for the next eight years.

During this time, she was privileged to be present for the beatification of Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, SSND foundress, in November 1985.

She was graced to proclaim the first reading in St. Mary Major Basilica for the first Mass offered in Blessed Theresa’s honor the following day.

During her flight home to the United States in December 1990, she received word that her brother Leroy had died. This was a great sorrow for her. To aid in her reentry, she made a 30-day retreat at Grand Coteau, Louisiana.

In her discernment for ministry, she accepted the position of finance/development staff member at St. Peter Cathedral, Belleville, Illinois.

After five years, she accepted the position of manager at the Cardinal Ritter Institute’s DuBourg House, a residential care facility in St. Louis.

This position was followed by working in the finance office at Notre Dame High School and later, as secretary for Notre Dame Preschool, both on the Sancta Maria in Ripa campus, St. Louis.

Sister Rose Miriam transitioned to Veronica House, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, in 2011.

She was transferred to Anna House in 2019.

She died peacefully in the early hours of Jan. 31, 2024, at Anna House.

A prayer service was held at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton on Feb. 6.

Funeral services were held at Theresa Center the following morning.

Visitation, reading of the biography and sharing of memories preceded the celebration of the Mass of Resurrection with Franciscan Father Ralph Parthie presiding.

Family members, including her niece, Sister Kathleen Wegman SSND of Jefferson City; classmates, friends, former students, School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND associates were in attendance.

Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa Cemetery, St. Louis.