SILVER STORY
Mrs. EV
EV is a native of Peoria and has lived her entire life in central Peoria. She was born in the middle of the Depression era. EV says her growing-up years were difficult. Her home situation was very harsh and as a young child, she learned to cope by relying on her faith and the protection of Jesus’ mother Mary. In retrospect, EV recognized that her mother was not mentally healthy so no wonder her childhood was marred by painful physical and emotional experiences. She tells of hiding under her bed and imagining a sweet time having tea and cookies with Jesus’s mother Mary and feeling safe. She struggled in grade school because no one knew what was happening at home. Once EV was in high school, she learned how to sew and really enjoyed it. Times were hard, especially at home, so as a teen, she decided to quit high school and go to work so she could provide for herself. As a nursing assistant at OSF, one of the Sisters took her under their wing and provided the much-needed maternal love and guidance that EV craved. Once she was legally able to, EV moved out on her own and rented an apartment with some other working girls. She met her husband-to-be when she was about 15 and got married when she was 22.
EV and her husband quickly had a family on their hands. Within a few years, they had 5 little boys who EV says were quite a handful! Although just boyish mischief, one of the neighbors called the brood “the terror of the neighborhood”! EV laughs heartily at that, noting they “have all grown up to be very responsible men and fathers!
EV had a crisis when she had a 6th son who was born with a severe heart defect. He was whisked away to Chicago to have emergency surgery, but unfortunately did not survive the surgery; it was in 1966. EV was devastated. At that time, there were few services provided for a mother grieving the loss of a newborn, and she had a very busy family at home to care for. Soon it was just too much, and EV describes the deep depression and slow healing that eventually came with counseling and much prayer. She says she does not know how they made it through those times. Troubles were compounded by the loss of work that happened when the Pabst brewery closed, and her husband could not find work. “We ate a lot of cereal,” EV says. Seven years after the loss of her infant son, EV bore another child, this time a little girl. EV says “Those boys just loved her. Sometimes they would take her out of her crib and bring her in to play or sleep with them. Sometimes she took a tumble with their playing rough, but they really enjoyed each other.” EV says, “That little girl really healed my heart.”
Her husband eventually got another job and life seemed to be in a more even momentum. It was then that EV had time to be more active in church activities which brought her much joy. She also took in sewing. She had a home business altering dresses, making draperies, and other domestic items. She had an excellent reputation and could hardly keep up with all the requests. She saved all her money and after her children were grown, she used her sewing money to travel. Her husband did not like to travel, so she went with church groups to China, Rome, and Fatima, among the many trips that she also made stateside. EV says gratefully, “I’ve been able to meet two saints, Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta!”
When asked about her favorite accomplishments, EV claims raising her children. She worked hard to sew all their clothes, teach them their faith in Jesus, and raise them to be responsible people who are contributing to the world. She says, “That’s a LOT!” EV continues to hone her sewing skills. She is an exceptional quilter. She is active in several quilting groups and her quilts are truly a work of art.
Her message to the next generation: “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” She says to use our energy on important things that matter and last.
Her motto is “I’ll do it tomorrow if I don’t finish it today.” Most of all, EV’s life is a 90-year-long story of faith. She eventually cared for her mother later in life after she had a devastating stroke and was able to forgive her for the difficult childhood that EV experienced. Her legacy of prayer and service is her testimony to her faith in Jesus and her allegiance to his mother Mary.
As to keeping up with today’s changes, EV is active on Facebook and continues to make new friends all the time. EV takes very good care of her friends; she still has several friends that she made in grade school! Her family gathers often and EV “just loves that!” EV’s life is a joy and she is a joy to others, a light of hope and faith in a world in desperate need of such inspiration.