A memorial Mass for Sister Frances Wessel (formerly Mary Augustus) was celebrated Feb. 25 at Theresa Center Chapel at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis. Sister Frances died Jan. 23 at Elizabeth House-The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. The School Sister of Notre Dame was 89 years old.
The second of three children, she was born to Eugenia (Beer) and August Wessel in Bartelso, Illinois, on Oct. 17, 1935. The next day, she was baptized at St. Cecilia Church and named Frances Elizabeth.
Frances attended St. Cecilia grade school, which was staffed by the Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood. She attended Aviston Community High School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Upon graduation from high school, she enrolled at Saint Louis University and earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1957.
For several years, she experienced a call to religious life. She entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on Aug. 29, 1957. She was received into the novitiate on July 29, 1958, and given the name Mary Augustus in honor of her father. She professed first vows on July 30, 1959, and final vows on July 30, 1965. Later, she returned to her baptismal name.
Sister Frances was a teacher for 12 years at multiple schools, including St. Peter Grade School in Jefferson City, Missouri; St. Joseph in Ponchatoula, Louisiana; Teutopolis High School in Teutopolis, Illinois; and St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus “Rock” High School and Notre Dame High School in St. Louis. She was the principal for four years at St. Francis de Sales. In 1971, she achieved a master’s degree in American history from Saint Louis University.
In 1975, she began to serve in parish ministry. She ministered throughout Missouri at St. Alphonsus Liguori in St. Louis; St. George in Linn; St. Joseph the Worker in Ozark; and Holy Rosary in Monroe City. She received a master’s degree in pastoral studies in 1982 from Loyola University in Chicago. For three years, she served as the director of Queen of Peace Center in St. Louis, which helps women with substance abuse disorders.
Following a sabbatical year in Berkeley, California, she became the assistant program director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, taught adult education for the Franciscan Communications in Los Angeles, was a staff member for the Intercommunity Consultants and also worked as a coordinator for the Center for Media and Values in Los Angeles.
In 1993, she became the administrative assistant and coordinator of volunteers for The Kitchen Inc., a multiservice homeless shelter in Springfield, Missouri. Four years later, she served in adult religious education at Our Lady of the Cove in Kimberling City and St. Joseph the Worker in Ozark and was on the staff at Little Portion Retreat Center in Springfield. In 2004, she took a position as pastoral associate at the newly opened St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Nixa. In 2006, she established the online Bible Belt Studies and offered spiritual direction from her residence in Springfield. During this time, she also organized The Women at the Well, a group of women who came together to share prayer and life experiences.
In 2019, she moved to Naomi House-The Sarah Community in Bridgeton and continued the Bible Belt Studies. Five years later, she moved to Veronica House. She entered into hospice care in December 2024. She was transferred to Elizabeth House in January 2025.
Sister Frances is survived by a sister, Evelyn Land of Boston. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugenia and August Wessel; and her brother, Bernard. Sister Frances donated her body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
