Marion Wiesel dies at 94

(JNS) – Marion Wiesel, wife of Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor and renowned author Elie Wiesel, died on Sunday at her home in Greenwich, Conn., at age 94.

“It is with profound grief that we share that Marion Wiesel—activist, wife, mother and grandmother—passed away this morning, February 2nd, 2025,” according to the Eli Wiesel Foundation for Humanity website, founded with money from his 1986 Nobel Prize.

Marion translated 14 of her husband’s books from French to English. She was most proud of her 2006 translation of his classic work, “Night,” which came out in 1960 before they were married and was originally translated by Stella Rodway, The New York Times reported.

Marion also wrote and narrated the documentary film “Children of the Night,” about children murdered during the Holocaust.

She produced many television programs, including “A Passover Haggadah,” “The World of Elie Wiesel” and “The Oslo Concert: A Tribute to Peace.”

 

In just a few days, this Tuesday, Parshas Beshalach, the most auspicious day for tefillah on parnassah, Gedolei HaDor will gather for a special prayer at the holy graves of R’ Yehuda Bar Ilai ZT”L and the holy Baal HaSegulah, R’ Menachem Mendel of Riminoff ZT”L. …

“Those seeking to honor her memory can make charitable donations to support children in Israel at the Beit Tzipora Centers through The Elie Wiesel Foundation’s website,” the foundation said.

The Beit Tzipora Centers in Israel, which Marion managed, offers schooling and other support to Ethiopian Jewish children, according to The New York Times obituary.

Mary Renate Erster was born in Vienna on Jan. 27, 1931. Her family escaped when the Nazis took over, fleeing to various parts of Europe. Eventually, thanks to a relative of her mother’s who had Swiss citizenship, they succeeded in smuggling themselves to Switzerland in 1942.

They came to New York in 1949.

In the late 1950s, Marion married F. Peter Rose and had one daughter, Jennifer. As her marriage was ending, she met Elie Wiesel. They married in 1969 and had a son, Elisha.

Marion and Elie Wiesel on their wedding day in 1969. Courtesy: The Wiesel family.
Marion is credited with helping raise her husband’s stature.

“In the alignment of stars that helped make Wiesel the international icon he became, his marriage to Marion was among the most significant,” Joseph Berger wrote in “Elie Wiesel: Confronting the Silence” (2023).

Her husband passed away on July 2, 2016.

Upon learning of Marion’s death, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Marion Wiesel. Her presence at the UN’s International Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony each year was a testament to her unwavering commitment to memory and truth. My heartfelt condolences to her family. May her memory be a blessing.”