Name: Maxine Eidson

Parish: Lifetime member of St. Anthony Parish, Evansville

Married, number of children: Widow of Don Eidson, who died in 1985 after 30 years of marriage; four children (one is deceased), 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Tell me three things about yourself that defines who you are: I’m very bashful, I like to volunteer, and I enjoy being with my family.

How did you meet your husband? My cousin was dating Don’s brother. We met when he was home on leave from the service. We went to the Princeton fair on our first date.

Where were you born? Here in Evansville on Missouri Street. There were six of us, and I was the third oldest. We used to play marbles, jacks, football and baseball in the alley. We also went to the Woodlawn Theater on Main Street once a week. It cost 12 cents to see a show.

What is an early memory of church? My First Holy Communion, when I was in the second grade. I remember the white dress and veil I wore.

Who was your hero or someone you looked up to as a child? My daddy, who raised us after he and our mother divorced. He was a good man, and he loved children. He worked at Hoosier Cardinal.

Who is your hero now? My family. We get together on holidays for meals. We also spend a week together at the cabins in Harmonie State Park, plus we have family reunions every year.

What are your hobbies? I like to play cards. I’m playing clabber again after many years. I also attend meetings of the senior citizens group and other organizations.

Where was your first job? My first and only job was at Hoosier Cardinal.

What are you or have you been involved with at your parish? I’m a Eucharistic Minister, and I take communion to the residents in the apartments where I live. I help clean church and work at the soup kitchen. I belong to a Bible class, prayer group, Ladies of Charity and the Benedictine Oblates of St. Meinrad Archabbey.

What do you like most about being Catholic? Receiving the Eucharistic at Mass.

What is your favorite religious item? I have a crucifix that looks like it might have been part of a rosary. When I was really young, a friend who knew I was Catholic gave it to me. I carried it in my pocket for years, and now I keep it beside my bed.

Have you ever experienced a miracle or God’s intervention in your life? A few years ago, when my son was dying of cancer, I went to a spirituality meeting on a Saturday. They gave us each a card with a word on it, and mine said “Miracle.” The next day, when I was with my son, he wanted to go outside and sit. After a while, he asked if we could go for a walk. My other son pushed him in his wheelchair, and as we walked, neighbors joined us. He passed away on Wednesday of that same week, and I will always remember how nice it was to take that walk with him. It was a miracle.

Describe a time in your life when you had to rely on your faith: When my husband and son died. They both had colon cancer. My husband was 52 and my son was 43. My faith meant a whole lot to me during these times. I don’t know how you could go through things like that without faith. We don’t worry about them any more because we know they are better off. We just have to live without them, and that’s the hard part.

What’s the best advice you can give someone else? To have faith in the Lord.