Irma Clara Wiesner, the second child of Alfred Wiesner and Emma Margaret Roeckers Wiesner, was born on January 16, 1924, in Richmond, Kansas. Her older brother was named Alfred. She was followed by John, Marion, Joseph, Velma, Thelma, Florence, Rose and Frances. Joseph died as an infant.
She was baptized on January 23, 1924, at St. Boniface Church in Scipio, Kansas. She was also confirmed there on May 17, 1934, by Most Reverend Francis Johannes, Bishop of Leavenworth. Irma went to public school in Richmond, and met the Ursuline Sisters when they came on the weekends to teach religion and during the summer for Vacation Bible School.
Irma got her start in handwork at home with her mother teaching her a variety of ways to sew, knit, embroider and quilt. Along with her siblings, she joined 4H and learned to excel in sewing and cooking. She made dresses and candy which won mention at many County Fairs. That encouraged her to continue with home economics in high school and several classes in college.
Irma decided to enter the Ursuline Sisters at a very early age. When she was 12 or 13, she started seriously thinking about becoming an Ursuline. She entered the postulancy on September 15, 1939. During 1940 her mother became seriously ill and she went home to take care of her after she had surgery. She re-entered on February 2, 1941.
She entered the novitiate on January 2, 1942, and received the name of Sister Emerentia. She made temporary profession on January 4, 1943, and made her perpetual profession on January 4, 1946. She was 21 years old when she began her teaching ministry at Holy Name School in Kansas City. Like most of our Sisters, she went to school at night and in the summer to get the degrees she needed for her education ministry.
In 1973, the Ursuline community needed someone to handle nursing and Sister Emerentia volunteered. She attended classes at Kansas University Medical Center for a year to get her LPN license. She continued her work in the Motherhouse infirmary until 1987.
When several of the Sisters from Paola moved to Maple Mount in 2009, Sister Emerentia said she wanted to continue sewing for the community. Many of her creations were sold to employees and others were available for sale at the picnics that were held in September. She worked with Sister Mary Irene Cecil who did sewing for the sisters in Saint Joseph Villa. Sister Emerentia said she wanted to keep sewing for the Sisters as long as she was able. “I thank God for my gift of sewing,” she said.
Sister Emerentia was called to her eternal home on January 17, 2020, one day after her 96th birthday. The funeral Mass was at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2020, in the Motherhouse Chapel. Burial was in the Motherhouse cemetery.