Sister Rene Marie Wentzel (formerly Sister Rene Marie) died on October 5, 2025 in Camilla Hall. Sister Rene was in the 50th year of her religious life.
Mary Rene was born on May 15, 1957 in Reading, PA. Her parents Edward and Dorothy Marie (Marinitz) Wentzel raised their family of four children in SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Reading. Rene attended grade school at SS. Cyril and Methodius (1963-1971) and Reading Central Catholic High School (1971-1975). Later, while in the community, Sister Rene went on to Immaculata College earning a B.A. in Theology in 1982 and a B.Music degree in 1985. In 1993 Sister Rene earned a M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.
Rene entered the community on September 7, 1975. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Rene Marie, on June 19, 1976, and pronounced her First Vows on June 24, 1978.
In the fall of 1978 Sister Rene began her ministry of teaching. Sister taught students at St. Thomas Aquinas (1978-1979) and St. Charles (1980-1981) in the Philadelphia area. Sister Rene had the opportunity for further study during the 1979-1980 academic year and again during the 1981-1982 academic year.
Sister Rene taught seventh grade students at St. Michael School in Annandale, Virginia from 1982-1985. This marked her last assignment as a classroom teacher exclusively. In the fall of 1985 through the school year ending in 1994, Sister Rene’s teaching focused on music, first at Holy Innocents and then at St. Martin of Tours.
Sister Rene served as the Director of Parish Liturgy at St. Dominic Parish (1994-1996). Sister served in the same capacity at St. Gabriel Parish (1996-2002) while serving as the local superior in St. Gabriel Convent. Sister then went to St. Monica Convent (2002-2008) and served as local superior in the convent and Pastoral Minister of the school. While Sister resided at St. Monica Convent, her ministry took her to North Catholic High School where she served as Campus Minister (2004-2005).
In 2005 Sister Rene was assigned as the Director of Liturgy and Music for Epiphany Parish in Philadelphia with a change of residence to Sacred Heart Convent from 2008 through 2011. In August 2011, due to health issues, Sister Mary Rene’s active ministry was changed, and she went to Camilla Hall to assist with liturgy where she continued to reside until her death.
Sister Rene died peacefully on October 5, 2025 with family and faithful IHM Sisters surrounding her with love and prayers.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Mary Rene is survived by her sisters Teresa Marie Mueller (Daron) and Margaret Mary Yuskovic (John), her sister-in-law Lora and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister was predeceased by her parents Edward Wentzel, Dorothy Marie (Marinitz) Wentzel and her brother, Edward Michael Wentzel.
Reverend Eric Banecker was the main celebrant for Sister Mary Rene’s Funeral Mass on October 11, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Father John Pidgeon (Homilist), Father George Bur, S.J., Father Michael Gerlach, Father William Kaufman, and Father Francis Chambers, O.S.A. concelebrated with Father Banecker.
In Sister Mary Rene’s memory, a memorial donation may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355