Dear Michigan Catholic,

On Sept. 21, 2015, Clara Hesch will be celebrating her 100th birthday.

In 1915, Clara (Ruemenapp) was born on the family farm in Richmond, Mich., the youngest of nine children. She can tell you fascinating stories about “life on the farm” and how she witnessed the marvels of each decade. It was a big day when electricity and plumbing were brought into the house. The cooking and heating were provided by wood burning stoves. Most of the food was grown on the farm and preserved or put in a cellar for the winter months. Before the family purchased a Model T, they would ride 5 miles every Sunday in a horse-drawn carriage to attend Mass at St. Augustine.

Clara met her husband, Arnold, at a barn dance and they fell in love immediately, married in 1937, and had five children. When Arnold got a job at Ford Motor Company, they moved to Detroit and joined St. Francis de Sales Church and were devout parishioners for more than 20 years. They provided all five children with a Catholic education and reinforced their Catholic faith daily in their home through prayer and example. When they moved to Livonia in 1974, Clara wanted to be sure that their new home would be close to a Catholic church and was fortunate to find a home that backed up onto the property of St. Edith Parish. She and Arnold were able to walk to church every day for almost 20 years and served as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. They both became very involved at St. Edith and would help with church activities such as decorating for Christmas and Easter, bingo, planting flowers and tending the gardens, and volunteering whenever the church needed an extra pair of hands. Clara eventually became a sacristan and tended to the care of the altar for more than 30 years.

After Arnold passed away in 1992, Clara continued to be active in the church and attended daily Mass, telling her children that there was “no better way to start the day.” Her example of devoutness and dedication to the Catholic Church has been an inspiration to all her family (5 children, 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren) as well as to all those who have been privileged to have known Clara during her 100 years.

Carolyn Laughton