Sister Marie (Walter Marie) Williams

SISTER MARIE (Walter Marie) WILLIAMS

On August 30, Sister Marie Williams, School Sister of Notre Dame, passed away peacefully at Trinity Trace Care Center in Covington, LA.

The fourth of eight children was born to Elina (Waguespack) and Walter Williams on September 2, 1937, in Marrero, Louisiana.  She was baptized on September 12, 1937, at Immaculate Conception Church in Marrero and named Marie Ethelynn.  The eight children (five girls, three boys), their parents, grandmother and uncle lived together in a three-bedroom home.  The close-knit family bonded by praying the rosary daily.   The family home became a gathering place for the neighborhood children and Marie had a very happy childhood.  Her younger sister, Bertha, also entered SSND and is known as Sister Floretta.

Marie attended Marrero Public Elementary School and her first year of high school at Marrero High.  A friend who lived near Madonna Manor invited Marie to join her in visiting the orphanage.  She had an enjoyable time with the children and was impressed with the joy and happiness of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who cared for them.  Noticing Marie’s interest, the Superior gave her pamphlets regarding religious life and SSND.  She had always wanted to be a teacher, so with the guidance of the superior at the local convent, she asked her parents and received permission to come to the Aspiranture at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis, Missouri.  She graduated from Notre Dame High School and entered the candidature on August 31, 1954.

Marie was received into the novitiate on August 2, 1955, and given the name Walter Marie in honor of her father.  She professed first vows on August 3, 1956, and final vows on August 3, 1962.  Later, she returned to her baptismal name.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1964 and a master’s degree in elementary education from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas in 1973.

Sister Marie began her 34-year teaching ministry at All Souls, Overland, MO with 69 fifth grade children.  The following year, she was missioned to St. Anthony, Baton Rouge, LA.  Five years later, she taught at Little Flower of Jesus in New Orleans, LA; then Our Lady of Fatima in Galena Park, TX; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux, LA where she had the dual role of principal and teacher.  In 1970, she was missioned to St. Therese, Jackson, MS then to St. Mary, Gainesville, TX.  In 1979, she was assigned to Redemptorist Junior High School in Baton Rouge, LA.

After a renewal program in 1985-86, followed by community service at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS, she requested to live with Sister Floretta so they could continue their ministry but also assist in the care of their dying father and support their mother.  They received permission and lived and taught together at St. Maria Goretti, Lake Arthur, LA, Holy Name of Mary, Gretna, LA and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Belle Chasse, LA.  Their father died in 1992; their mother moved to Wynhoven Apartments and died in 1998.  During the last year of her mother’s life, S. Marie took a position as librarian at the Belle Terre Library in Gretna to help to provide more care for her mother and assist her oldest sister who was struggling with cancer.  Following her mother’s death, she realized she could not teach full time anymore in a classroom setting.  Therefore, she continued her educational ministry as a teacher in the GED Program at PEPI (Progressive Education Program) in Iberia, LA.  After 14 years, she retired at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, MS.  In 2019, she moved with the other Sisters to St. Anthony’s Gardens in Covington, LA.  She was transferred to Trinity Trace Community Care Center in June 2025.  As her health failed, she was placed on hospice and passed away in the evening of August 30, 2025, as Sisters and family prayed with her.  May she now rejoice in her new life with her God and family members who have gone before her into eternal life.

Preceding in death are her parents, Elina (Waguespack) and Walter Williams and siblings, Shirley (Williams) St. Pierre, Walter Williams, Jr., and Raymond H. Williams.

She is survived by four siblings, Floretta Williams SSND, Covington, Verneil (Williams) Samanie, Hammond, Elvira (Williams) Reasor, Georgetown, TX, and Paul Williams, Hammond, LA.

Sister Marie was a teacher in Catholic schools for over 34 years, ministering primarily in either Texas or Louisiana.  She is known for her creative teaching style and love of teaching mathematics.

A Prayer Service/Sharing of Memories begins September 12, 2025, at 10:30 AM followed by a Memorial Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s Gardens at 601 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA., 70433.  Msgr. Bill Bilinski will officiate.  Inurnment will follow at 1:30 PM at St. Mary of the Pines Cemetery, Chatawa, MS.

Arrangements are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, LA.

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