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Sister Permelia “Alice” Weaver, SNJM
Sister Alice Margaret
May 20, 1932 – Augut 13, 2025
Sister Permelia “Alice” Weaver, SNJM departed this life on August 13, 2025 in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Sister Alice celebrated 93 years of life and 71 years of her religious profession.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Holy Names Chapel in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Burial will follow at Holy Names Cemetery in Marylhurst, Oregon.
Sister Permelia “Alice” Weaver, SNJM
May 20, 1932 – August 13, 2025
Sister Permelia Ann “Alice” Weaver, SNJM, 93, died on August 13 at Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Permelia was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of Chester Edward Weaver and Alice Margaret (Wilkins) Weaver (later Mrs. Robert M. Oslund), both of her parents remarrying when she was in her teens.
In 1950 she graduated from Ramona Convent Secondary School, Alhambra, where she got to know the Sisters of the Holy Names. She later entered the Holy Names novitiate in Oakland, where as a novice she received the religious name Sister M. Alice Margaret. She made her profession of vows in February 1954.
Sister Alice’s first ministry was as a primary grade teacher in Holy Names schools in California, including St. Gerard Majella, Los Angeles; Our Lady of Lourdes, Oakland; and St. Joseph, San Francisco. During this time she earned a B.A. in education from Holy Names College, Oakland.
In December 1961, Alice was named to go to Arequipa, Peru, as part of a newly established Holy Names educational ministry, the first in South America. Along with Sister Mary Bernardus (Ehret) and Sister Mary Grace (Dykzeul), she left for Peru to support the Maryknoll Fathers who had a newly built elementary school in their parish of Nuestra Senora de Pilar.
In Peru, Alice taught bilingual classes to first graders. She once said that in her first months there, her students learned three languages in her class. They knew Spanish, they were learning English, and they knew her Spanish. Happily, in time, she became a more proficient Spanish speaker.
The 10 years Alice spent in Arequipa was such a wonderful experience for her she said. She always remembered with great gratitude and fondness how warm and welcoming the people were, and how accepting.
Returning to California in 1972, Alice spent another 20 years as a primary teacher in Catholic schools in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Fremont, Monterey Park and in Portland, Oregon. Her move to Portland came when she went there with her mother for whom she had the privilege of being caregiver for 15 years.
When Alice made the decision to leave fulltime classroom teaching, she prepared herself for a different role in the schools by returning to school herself and earning a media/library assistant credential. For the 16 years that followed, she served as beloved school librarian at Holy Redeemer Grade School in North Portland as well as volunteering at the Portland Community College and Multnomah County Libraries.
On retiring, Alice joined the retirement community at Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst in Lake Oswego. An active participant in the life of the resident community, she was a good friend to many, generously offering support and encouragement to those around her.
A Holy Names Sister for nearly 72 years, Alice was a faithful woman of God who had a deep interest in the spirituality of nature. She will be remembered for her spirit of adventure, her love of children, her ready smile, her interest in people, and her love of learning.
Alice is survived by her nieces, nephews, and cousins and the members of her religious community. Mass of Resurrection is Thursday, October 2, at 11am, Chapel of the Holy Names, Marylhurst. Inurnment follows at nearby Holy Names Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names, PO Box 398, Marylhurst, OR 97036 or online at www.snjmusontario.org/donate.