Date of death: 11/18/2025
Saint Meinrad Class: SS 1985
Sister Marlene, formerly known as Michael de Deo, Buese, 83, passed away in the morning of November 18, 2025 at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the
Snows in Belleville, Illinois. The second of nine children was born to Catherine (DeMange) and Herman Buese at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis, Illinois, on November 11, 1942. She was baptized at St. Regis Church in East St. Louis on November 28, 1942, and named Marlene Frances. The close-knit family of nine included six girls and three boys. Marlene attended St. Philip Grade School, East St. Louis, staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). She began her high school education at St. Teresa Academy staffed by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ from Ruma, Illinois. Marlene was attracted to religious life since grade school and at the end of her sophomore year, she asked permission to enroll at the Aspiranture at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis. After discussion with her parents, pastor and sisters in the parish, she entered the Aspiranture for her junior year. During this year, her younger brother, Michael, was called
home to God.
Marlene had sufficient credits to begin college, so she entered the candidature following her junior year. She received the candidate’s veil at her home parish, St. Philip, on August 26, 1959. She was
received into the novitiate on July 30, 1960 and given the name Michael de Deo, in memory of her deceased brother. She professed first vows on July 31, 1961, and final vows on July 29, 1966. Later, she returned to her baptismal name.
She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the former Notre Dame College, St. Louis, in 1963; a master’s degree in biology from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, in 1974 and a master’s degree in theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana, in 1985. Sister Marlene ministered as a teacher for 19 years. She taught fourth grade at Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Louis, for two years. Across the next 17 years, she taught science and math at Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville, Illinois; St. Joseph High School, Farmington, Missouri; Rosary High School, St. Louis and Duchesne High School, St. Charles, Missouri. In 1982, she felt a call to serve in parish ministry. She ministered in small rural parishes as a pastoral associate and director of religious education. She began at St. Rose, Metropolis, Illinois, followed by St. Paul, Vienna, Illinois; St. Joseph, Palmyra, Missouri; St. Mary, Centralia, Illinois and St. Joseph, Farmington, Missouri. In 2010, she was a teacher assistant at Farmington Public School for one year. For the decade which followed, she served as director of religious education at St. Lawrence, Sandoval, Illinois.
Sister Marlene retired in 2021 to O’Fallon, Illinois. In October 2025, she moved to the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. She passed
away peacefully in the morning of November 18, 2025, a week after her 83rd birthday.
Sister Marlene is survived by her sisters Catherine (Michael) Lobstein, Elizabeth Weidenbenner, Susan (Joseph) Callais and Annette (Henry) George; her brothers Donald (Ursula) Buese and
Dennis (Veronica) Buese; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Herman Buese;
her sister, JoAnn Moran; her brother, Michael and brothers-n-law Jose Moran and John Weidenbenner. Sister Marlene was a creative person who enjoyed making a variety of crafts ranging from fine embroidery to building doll houses. She loved music and was gifted with a beautiful singing voice. She was an excellent cook/baker and loved to have a good time with others. She possessed a deep love for her family and was especially grateful to retire in a location near many of them. In her decades of ministry, she touched many lives by her concern, care and compassion. May she now rest in the peace of her God as she enters her new life.