Name: Bennie May. My full name is Benedicta Lucille (Vowels) May.

Parish: I have been a member of Sacred Heart Church, Evansville, since I was 19 years old.

Married, number of children: Widow of Joseph A. May, who died in May 1991 after 58 years of marriage; four children, 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Tell us three things about yourself. I’m happy, optimistic, honest, persistent (or stubborn!), and I’m a listening person.

What are some of your childhood memories? Where did you grow up, and how many brothers and sisters did you have? I grew up in Waverly, Ky. I had five brothers and three sisters, and I enjoyed playing in a nearby woods with them. We moved to Evansville when I was around age 10.

What is a favorite Christmas memory? When I was about 8 years old, I received a baby doll with “real” baby clothes (made by my mother).

Who taught you to swim and to drive a car? I taught myself to swim at the West Side salt pool. I never did drive, although I sometimes dream that I’m driving, and that’s scary! We always walked, took the city bus, or rode with others.

Describe a time when you were scared or frightened as a child. I remember being in a horse-drawn wagon being driven by my dad. Something “spooked” the horses, and they went running wild. There was no way my dad could stop them until they were ready to stop on their own. It was very scary for everyone in the wagon – especially me!

Have you encountered a miracle or God’s intervention in your life? At age 5 or 6, when we lived in Uniontown, Ky., (where I was born) we were coming home from my grandmother’s home in a horse-drawn wagon, when somehow I fell out of the wagon and was run over by the wagon wheel, right across my chest. I was taken to see the doctor, and everything was OK. I consider this to be a real miracle. My guardian angel was certainly looking out for me!

Who influenced you growing up? Who was a hero to you? My eighth grade teacher, Benedictine Sister Edith, who taught me at St. Joseph in the city. She was such a good example for me, and she expected all of us to do well and work hard. (She had red hair – she told us so.) My dad was also a hero to me. I loved doing things with him, like when he would ask for someone to go to the picture show with him. No one would go with him but me. One delicious memory is on our way home, my dad would buy a large bag of peanuts for us and everyone else at home.

Who do you consider a hero today? St. Joseph. My youngest brother is named Joseph; I went to school and church at St. Joseph; I was married at St. Joseph’s Church; my husband’s name was Joseph; my oldest son’s name is Joseph; my oldest grandchild’s name is Joseph. St. Joseph is a great saint. I really like all the saints, and I especially like to pray the Litany of the Saints. We don’t pray this in church anymore. It’s a wonderful prayer to God as well as many of the saints.

What was your first job and what did it pay? It was working in the dining room at the old St. Mary’s Hospital on First Avenue. I was paid $1 a day! Another early job memory was working for Nolting Brothers (they ran Faultless) wrapping furniture trims and putting labels on boxes. One of the bosses was watching me, and he mentioned that some of my labels were crooked. He also mentioned that the workers downstairs had their labels on straight. I politely, but firmly, told him that the workers downstairs had a machine to put their labels on with! He had nothing more to say … he just turned and walked away.

What are your memories of the Great Depression? At age 19 or 20, I was the only one in our household working. I made $45 a week at Faultless Caster. I was the sole support of my parents, myself and my brothers and sisters.

What are your memories of World War II? During the war, I was married with small children, and I had two brothers in the military. I rented a sleeping room to three shipyard workers, and I also did their laundry. When they smelled breakfast cooking for my family, they wanted to have that included too, but we could not do that. It was a hard time for everyone!

Why ought a person be faithful, go to church, or believe in God? I was taught from the cradle on to be faithful, go to church and believe in God. I have never wanted to do anything else!

What is your first memory of Church? My First Communion Day. I was 9 years old and lived in Waverly, Ky. I wore a white dress and veil, and we all processed into church. We had to fast from food and water from Midnight on. It was a real temptation to go by the water fountains and not take a drink. Of course, I went to Communion every day after my First Communion, and my mother always sent my breakfast with me to school.

Describe how your faith helped you through a difficult time in your life. My faith has always been very important to me. It helped me so much during several difficult times in my life. Our youngest child (our only daughter) nearly died with a ruptured appendix, and my husband was hospitalized two different times with life-threatening illnesses. My rosary, the Holy Mass and other prayers I knew from childhood supported me and kept me going during these difficulties.

What form does stewardship take in your life? What have you been involved with at your parish? All through the years, I have helped whenever Sacred Heart Church or school needed anything I could help provide – pies, cakes, paper dives, fundraisers of all kinds. I helped clean church for many years and quilted with the Sacred Heart quilters for over 40 years.

Do you have any hobbies? How do you stay active? I have always loved to play cards – clabber and especially enjoyed playing rum with a granddaughter, who is now in college. We were serious about our playing, so much so that I received an automatic card shuffler as a gift from my family. I had my own quilting frame in my home and made many quilts for my family. I take care of my own home and do my own cooking and laundry. I enjoy planting flowers and a couple of tomato plants in spring and summer, and I help rake leaves in the fall. I enjoy baking Christmas fruitcakes as gifts at Christmas time, and baking cookies for my family all year round.

What do you like most about being Catholic? The Mass and Holy Communion.

What is your favorite religious item? A rosary blessed by Pope John Paul II when my youngest brother, Joe, visited Rome.

What have you learned? How are you different than 40 or 50 years ago? I’m sure I’ve learned many things, but I can’t think of anything specific right now. I know that many things have changed in the Church as well as the world around me, but none of these changes have really changed me. I still have my faith. I love my Church and my Country!

What is your best wisdom on life? What’s the best advice you ever received or could offer someone else? Keep the Commandments. I received the best advice from my mother, mostly by her example. Be true and genuine to the things you believe in, and your example will be the best advice you could offer to anyone.

People of Wisdom is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, Inc. For more information, please call (800) 637-1731 or (812) 424-5536, or visit the website @ www.catholicfoundationswin.org.