Wickes' career had a resurgence in the late 1980s and 1990s. 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). One of her most notable roles happened in this time frame, when she was cast as Sister Mary Lazarus in "Sister Act" (1992) and in the sequel "" (1993). She appeared in the 1994 film version of "Little Women" before she became ill.