Growing up in Croatia
On the many travels that Fr. Dominic and Pam take around the country getting to meet our wonderful friends, Frances stands out as one of the most memorable.
Growing up in Croatia, Frances and her family were inspired and devoted to the Sacred Heart. Soon after coming to America in 1939, she learned of the Priests of the Sacred Heart through "their great work in spreading the word of God and helping the poor."
Frances married Luke, the love of her life and the two were happily married for 55 years before Luke went to his heavenly reward. The two were blessed with two sons.
Frances' life history and experiences embellished by poems and special memories has been published in her first book at age 85. What a wonderful gift to her family, a treasure chest of memories and history.
Frances speaks of her life in Croatia and the hardships her family endured. "Life was hard then and we were poor. But my mother was such a smart person, hard worker, good organizer, that we children never noticed what she had to go through to raise us. We were always so happy. Our beds were made of plain, wood, mattresses out of corn husks and sheets out of flannel and wool we had from our sheep."
It is evident in reading the history of Frances' family that God and prayer were ever present. Throughout the book, Frances refers to her life as "blessed".
It is with the many friends like Frances who give, in their words a "small donation" every month, that enable the Priests of the Sacred Heart to carry on God's work. In Frances' mind it was her feeling that she has not made a significant gift to the Priests of the Sacred Heart. "I did not make any particular gift. Just a small donation every month because I love God and His Sacred Heart. God is my life."
Ned, who was Frances' cargiver for many years, called to let us know that she passed away at the age of 99.
Ned shares, "Over mom's last few months, I collected all her awards, etc.
I would go over each of the articles with her, so she could remember how accomplished she was in her long life. I often put the website up on the TV and mom would marvel how her accomplishments were broadcast to the world on TV.
I did this many days during her decline.
She would forget by bedtime, but tell me, as I tucked her in, that " I know something really nice happened for me today, but I don't remember what it is." Then I would tell her again, about her great works in this world, always ending with the best: she raised two good sons."