Sister Madeleine Sophie Weber, IHM, age 94, died Tuesday, March 25, 2025, surrounded by her IHM family in Monroe.
Madelyn Anne Weber was born in Detroit on October 8, 1930, to parents William and Harriet (Kriener) Weber. Madelyn joined her older brother in welcoming two younger sisters to the family. Educated in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, by the Madames of the Sacred Heart, young Madelyn graduated in 1948 and went on to attend Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York City, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1952.
In the Fall of 1953, she answered a long-felt yearning to be closer to Christ and entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe), and received the religious name Sister Madeleine Sophie. By 1954, she earned a master’s degree from the University of Detroit.
Assigned as a grade-school teacher, Sister Madeleine Sophie led the sixth grades of St. Michael, St. Mary Novitiate, Monroe, St. Mary, Mt. Morris, and Christ the King Detroit. Several years at St. Phillip, Battle Creek and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westchester, introduced her to the high school environment and work as a guidance counselor. During this time, Sister Madeleine Sophie attained a doctoral degree in Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago.
In 1969, Sister Madeleine Sophie was among several IHMs missioned to St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas, at the school’s request to establish a women’s college as a sister school to the men’s college. St. Edward became her life’s work and legacy. In thirty years of ministry there, she served as faculty, professor, and led teacher training. Her dedication to education and to St. Edward’s University inspired the lives of many to do similar work.
In 1998, Sister Madeleine became the director of South Austin Caregivers in Austin. Over ten years, her leadership built a much-needed resource in the Austin community and grew a solid volunteer membership. At age 80, Sister Madeleine changed her status to ‘volunteer’ for the group and remained involved as she was able. It was those same caregivers who helped Sister in later years transition to assisted living and eventually return to Monroe.
Sister Madeleine is survived by her sister Mary Benz, nieces and nephews, and her IHM Sisters in community. She was preceded in death by sister Winifred Hicks, and brother George W. Weber.
Read Sister Madeleine’s Remembering.