Name: Alberta Samm

Parish: Member of St. Joan of Arc, Jasonville, since 1956.

Married, number of children: Married Jack Trump in 1956 and had four children before he died in 1970. Married Weldon Samm in 1987; he also has four children. Together, they have 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren (two great-grandchildren are deceased).

Tell me three things about yourself that defines who you are: I play the organ at church, I quilt, and I like to read.

Where and when were you born? I grew up in rural northwest Indiana, about 35 miles south of Chicago, in a Catholic family of eight children. I was the oldest daughter, after three boys. I was born at home on May 30 — the same weekend as the Indianapolis 500. My aunt used to say that when she went to the race she just had nephews, and when she came back, she had a niece!

What are some of your childhood memories? We lived in the country near my grandmother, who had a farm. A great-uncle lived with her, and he used to let us ride around in their wagon, which was pulled by horses. My grandmother used to make bread, and she always made a small loaf for me. At Christmas, we’d go to Midnight Mass. One year, I was picked to be the one to put the Baby Jesus in the manger. Before Midnight Mass, we’d go to my grandmother’s house and she would give us our gifts. On Christmas Day, we’d have a big dinner at our house. My aunts from Crown Point would come . . . it was fun!

Who was your hero or someone you looked up to as a child? We went to the Catholic grade school at Schereville. I really admired Sister Elizabeth Marie, who was a Franciscan nun from Joliet, Ill. Because of her, I thought at one time I might become a nun. She was fair, and she had a good sense of humor. She was always doing extra things with us in class. One time, she had to punish me – probably for talking in class! She made me stay after school, and I missed the bus and had to walk home, which was about three miles. I still liked her, in spite of that!

Describe a time in your life when you had to rely on your faith: My first husband, Jack, was killed in a construction accident in 1970, leaving me with four children to raise alone. Our oldest son was 15 and the youngest was only 3. Grandparents, aunts and uncles were there for us, and my church family also helped. I think if I hadn’t had my faith, I don’t know if I would have made it. We were always taught that when things get tough to look to your faith.

How did you meet your husbands? Jack and I met on “Dollar Day” in Highland, Ind. All the stores in town were having big sales. I was working at the telephone company at the time. My cousin and I worked the split shift. We worked in the morning until about noon, then we were off until about 5 p.m. We decided to go shopping between the shifts. As we were going from store to store, we met these two young men (Jack and his friend). As we moved on down the street, we noticed they were following us. Finally, they got the nerve to catch up to us and introduce themselves. We had ice cream together, and later on Jack called me, and we started dating. My second husband, Weldon, had children who went to school with my children in Hymera. He is retired from the Air Force, and his wife died in 1983.

Where was your first job? My first paying job was working as the locker girl at the country club near our house. This was the summer after my freshman year in high school. I had to make sure there were towels, washcloths and soaps for the women golfers. I emptied the ashtrays and wastebaskets, and got their drinks for them from the clubhouse. My uncle worked in the bar at the time. Instead of working there the next summer, I got a job as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant. I worked there until I got out of high school.

What form does stewardship take in your life? How do you give of your time, talent and treasure to your parish? I take care of the altar and have everything ready for Mass on Saturday evenings. I also do some cleaning at the church. Since 1975, I have been playing the organ at for Mass. Years ago, we had an old pump organ at St. Joan’s, and I couldn’t play it because it just had one straight keyboard. When St. Peter Church in Linton got a new organ, they brought us their old one, but it didn’t sound good at all! If I was going to play, I wanted an organ that made beautiful music! I saw a couple of used organs at the music store in Terre Haute, and I talked the man there into giving me a good deal on one. I had some back pay from the job that I worked at, and I used it to buy the organ for our parish. I put a plaque on it saying it was a donation from me and my children in memory of their father. I think Jack would have liked that, even though he wasn’t Catholic. He encouraged my love of music.

Where did you learn to play the organ? With eight children at home, there wasn’t enough money for music lessons. I remember one of my cousins used to take accordion lessons. I wanted to learn, too, so I took a few lessons if I had the 50 cents to pay for it. After I was married with children, I still longed to play an instrument. I considered buying a new chord organ from Sears, but I thought it cost too much money. Jack told me to go to Sears and buy it anyway. That was the day before he died, so the organ was the last thing he gave me. Later on, I traded that organ for a Lowry, and the store gave me six free lessons. This was more or less a chord organ, too. I thought, if I’m going to learn to play, I wanted something better. So I traded that in for a Wurlitzer, and I took lessons for four or five months. Except for those lessons, I mostly taught myself to play.

What do you like most about being Catholic? My son asked me that a while back, and I didn’t know what to say. I guess I’ve always liked the way our services are done. I like how it is quiet and peaceful in our church. I go in on Saturdays at 3 p.m. to do some of the cleaning and get everything ready for Mass. After I choose the songs we are going to sing, I just sit there and meditate and think about things in the quiet.

What is your favorite religious item? I have a rosary that one of my brothers gave me about a year before he died at the age of 26. I carry it with me all the time. It is hand-made of crystal beads. He had ordered it from someone who makes them.

What’s the best advice you can give someone else? Follow your own heart and do what you think is right.