 She was cast as the mother of Shirley MacLaine's character in the film "Postcards from the Edge" (1990) and portrayed Marie Murkin in the television movie and series adaptations of "The Father Dowling Mysteries" (1989–91).She played Sister Mary Lazarus in "Sister Act" (1992) and in the sequel "" (1993).She appeared in the film version of "Little Women" (1994) before she became ill.

Wickes suffered from numerous ailments in the last years of her life that cumulatively resulted in her hospitalization, where she fell and broke her hip, prompting surgery.