St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

Well, my Mom, if she was still living, would have turned 100 this coming Tuesday, October 17^th!!!   What a wonderful life she had all her 99.11 years.

She was born in Alton, IL to Alex & Ethel Zerwas in 1923.  She went to Catholic grade school at SS. Peter & Paul in Alton, continuing at Marquette Catholic HS there, graduating in 1941.  She married Joseph J. Molloy on February 19^th, 1949 at SS. Peter & Paul.  (That day it was 72 degrees in the middle of February!)

Mom worked at Alton State Bank for years before I was born.  When I came into their lives, mom took off for 7 years to raise me.  Then, she went to be head bookkeeper at Fischer Lumber Co. in East Alton, IL for 23 years.  She retired, & then volunteered as a Communion Minister to various nursing homes in Godfrey, IL.  She also took care of my dad for almost 4 years at home during his Alzheimer’s. 

I share a little about her because you all didn’t have the opportunity to meet her.  I sure wish you had that privilege.  Mom, as I told her many times in my visits, was THE BEST!  God blessed me so very much with choosing her to be my mom.  And for me, being an only child, to have the great privilege of being the only one ever in the whole world able to call her mom. 

I know I speak for my almost 100-year-old mom in saying THANK YOU for your prayers and support for her.   Being a woman of prayer throughout her life, she appreciated your prayerful kindness.  Also, I know some have lit candles for her.  How appropriate.  Each Wednesday morning mom would drop by the St. Anthony’s Hospital Chapel in Alton & light several candles.  She was a firm believer in them.

My heart overflows with gratitude for all that my mom did for me.  She, along with my dad, has been an important reason why I am a priest today.

May the Lord of all life hold my mom close to His heart this Tuesday in heaven, and may she continue to gaze upon His face in eternal life right next to my dad.

Your Pastor, Son of Lucia & Joseph Molloy