Sister Eileen Weisman, SSND
(Sister Albert Miriam)
November 12, 1942 – August 6, 2024
Irene Eileen Weisman was born November 12, 1942 at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the second daughter of Caroline P. Miedusiewski and Harry Lee Weisman, Jr. Her sister, Carolee is about three years older and her brother, Harry Lee, III nearly eight years younger than she.
Eileen grew up in Baltimore and was baptized at St. Katherine of Siena Church. She began kindergarten at St. Wenceslaus School, where she first met the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Due to what proved to be a misdiagnosis, she was kept at home for convalescence for over a year. In 1950, she and Carolee were enrolled at St. Dominic School in 1950 and Eileen graduated in 1958.
Eileen began her high school education at Notre Dame Preparatory (NDP) School, then at 4701 N. Charles St., Baltimore. She was among the students who relocated to the new campus on Hampton Lane in 1960 and graduated from NDP in 1961. Eileen was very active in parish CYO and high school activities during those years.
Eileen received the postulant’s veil in the NDP school chapel September 8, 1961 and professed first vows July 27, 1963. Her ministries include serving as teacher and administrator in several elementary and middle schools in South Carolina and Maryland. Eileen was later appointed Coordinator of Communications at the SSND Generalate in Rome, Italy, a position she held for more than eight years. During the past 10 years, Eileen has contributed to Database Services and Special Projects for the Provincial Council.
Eileen was known to her large family and many friends in SSND and beyond by many names: “Rene,” Auntie, Eileen and Sister. Eileen was a lifelong learner whose interests were broad and deep. She was always ready and willing to share her learnings with others. She loved to introduce visitors, be they in Rome or Baltimore, to local historic, religious and SSND places of interest. Eileen was famous for her “Rome by Night” driving tours complete with a running commentary about the sights to be seen.
Eileen’s bonds with family, friends and SSND were strongly interwoven. Just think of the many sisters, SSND and those from other congregations, who came to live at Villa Assumpta while studying and were blessed by Eileen’s spirit of hospitality!
In addition to her formal ministries, Eileen delighted in serving as sacristan at Villa Assumpta in these recent years.
Father Jack Ward, chaplain at Villa Assumpta and Eileen’s former colleague, presided at the Funeral Liturgy on August 19, 2024. The burial of Eileen’s cremains took place at Villa Maria Cemetery, Glen Arm, Maryland. Eileen was a participant in the RUSH Religious Order Study which included the donation of brain tissue for the study of Alzheimer’s and related diseases.
We remember and give thanks for Eileen’s generous spirit among us.
By Atlantic-Midwest Communications Staff August 20, 2024
