Cyril Henry Hemmelgarn's granddaughter is making a commitment in April to become a Lay Marianist. Michelle Wintering learned much from her grandfather, not by what he said, but by what he did.
Cy was devoted to God and his family. After the Navy he spent a long career with Ohio Bell. When his wife Ramona had a stroke after spending years as a Catholic grade school teacher, Cy spent over six years nursing her as she laid in a coma. He also prayed the rosary daily.
When Cy faced dimentia he bagan to forget things but he kept a good attitude and tried not to let his lapses deter him. He fell and broke his hip about five years ago and to keep track of visitors he would have them sign their names in a notebook. After leaving the hospital he began using the notebook to keep track of his daily chores. Included in this daily list was breakfast, shower, morning pills, lunch, dinner, evening pills, brush teeth and, of course, the rosary. As he completed each task he marked his notebook accordingly.
With his addled mind Cy continued to say "Yes" to everyday one checkmark at a time and one rosary at a time. He didn't remember many things well but he remembered his prayers and he kept his devotion to Mary.
When Cy died earlier this month, this man with a faulty memory left an example of living the Gospel as something his granddaughter will never forget.
peace and love,
aj
