Denver Catholic

10 I CATHOLIC LIFE SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Farm boy and city girl wedded for 62 years BY NISSA LAPOINT After 62 years of marriage, Dorothy and Darrell Parker have made humor a staple of their marriage. "We try to find something to laugh about every day," Dorothy said, whether that means laughing at themselves or the absurdities of life. Inside their updated 1930s home near Washington Park, the 84-year-old pair sat surrounded by family photos and recalled their fondest memories. Love hit the farm boy and city girl after they first met at a meat-packing plant in East Moline, Ill. She worked in the office and he loaded trucks from the dock just outside her window. Their first dates were spent going to the movies and watching car races. They ate at the popular Midwest sandwich diner Maid-Rite. "He didn't have a lot of money and I didn't either," Dorothy said. "He was just a nice guy and gentleman." The more time they spent together, the more they realized they were fit for each other, Darrell said. PHOTO BY NISSA LAPOINT/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER DOROTHY and Darrell Parker at their wedding, left, and today. Nine months later in March After the reception, they went 1951, they wed at St. Mary to Hotel Sherman in Chicago to Church in East Moline. spend their wedding night. The "It was just like married life," room cost $11.45 including a 50 she said. "We had rain, we had cent charge for the room's radio. snow, we had sun; we had a little They then moved to Chicago bit of everything, all in one day." and Darrell completed his meShe wore a $135 satin dress and chanical engineering degree at he donned a light gray suit. They Chicago Technical College. He said their vows on the side altar started a job at a radio company of the church, which was the cus- in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before he tom if one was not Catholic. was hired at Martin Marietta cor"I was ready to marry him any- poration. They moved to Denver way, even if he wasn't Catholic," in 1961. Dorothy was a stay-atshe said. home mom. They had a son, Douglas, and their daughter, Deanne, came later. As a family, they spent time traveling to the Midwest to visit family and camping in the Rocky Mountains. Darrell built a camper that fit on top of their vehicle and Dorothy sewed all the canvas and cushions. "That's what we traveled in," he said. They also participated in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with their two children. "We had a lot of fun doing all that," Dorothy said. Throughout the years they've maintained a garden in their backyard. "I grow 'em and she cans 'em," Darrell said. Faith has always been a central part of their lives as they became active in their parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver. Darrell converted from the Methodist faith a few years after their wedding and joined the Knights of Columbus, eventually becoming a third-degree Knight. They both were active in monthly breakfasts with fellow parishioners. Every Sunday the Parkers are found at their church ANNIVERSARY MASS PAYIN St The Office of Evangelization and Family Life Ministries invites couples celebrating their 25th, BY NIS 50th or 50-plus wedding anniversaries to be honored with a Stude Mass celebrated by Archbishop learned Samuel Aquila. they co helping Where: Cathedral Basilica of the needy. Immaculate Conception, 1530 Eight Logan St., Denver. glewoo summe Register: email carrie.keating@ archden.org or call 303-715-3259 small a and m place. attending Mass. Prayer, they said, is what "gets Willia shared you through the hard times." Over the course of their mar-and pl riage, they learned to live on a16th S budget. Darrell said they fol-He spe lowed the advice of their familyers and those w to "waste not, want not." "We've lived a frugal life, butThe $58 we have everything we need,"to Hou shelter Dorothy said. In addition to faith and frugaldren in living, patience in marriage is "I lea important, they said. They won'tto help start or end the day without a kiss."You do After 62 years, the couple saidtime o turn th they feel blessed. "I guess we get along," Doro- The m thy said with a laugh. "And we'reteacher the pro still in love." gestion When: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 13 Jubilarians urge courageous yes to consecrated life Eight religious sisters of the Denver Archdiocese are marking jubilee anniversaries of 25, 50 and 60 years. Sr. Joyce Langhals the religious life: "Our Lady will show you the way and you will not be sorry. You will find joy and happiness in a life given to the Lord." Sister Langhals grew up in a small town in Ohio where she met the Sisters of the Precious Blood. She has both a master's degree in counseling and a juris doctor degree. She taught high school, served as a vocation director and as president of her congregation. Currently, she is the director of formation for her community. A highlight of her ministry while serving as president of her community was attending the meeting of the International Union of Superiors General in Rome, which Blessed Mother Teresa also attended, and where she met Pope John Paul II. Her advice for those discerning consecrated life: "Be open to God's grace in your heart. You may be called to a life of prophecy and contemplation as a religious in today's Church and world." 50 YEARS 25 YEARS Sr. Jeannine Halloran Sr. Rita Cammack 60 YEARS Sr. Roberta Furey The ministry of Sister Furey, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, has consisted of teaching first through fourth grade for a short time at Mount St. Vincent Home in Denver and then 30 years in direct child care in her order's homes for children in Montana and Colorado. She also ministered at St. Mary Hospital in Grand Junction in the home health and hospice program. She returned to Mount St. Vincent's in 1993, 16 days before Pope John Paul II visited the children at the home during World Youth Day week. She called his visit "unforgettable." Her advice for those considering religious life: "If the call is there and it does not go away … follow your heart." PHOTO BY TODD WOLLAM FOR THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER JUBILARIAN sisters pose with Archbishop Samuel Aquila Sept. 15. Sr. Eleanor O'Hearn Sister O'Hearn, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, ministered 30 years as principal of St. Francis de Sales School in Denver. She said she "loved every minute of it." Her advice to those discerning a call to consecrated life: "With an open mind and heart and a smile on your Sr. Mary Madalena Koeger Sister Koeger has served at face, place your hand in the homes operated by her order, the hand of the Lord and the Lord Little Sisters of the Poor, in Phoe- will lead you." nix, Chicago (five different as- Sr. Therese Marie Reichard signments), New Orleans, NashSister Reichard served in sevville, Tenn.; Mobile, Ala., and St. eral homes of the Little Sisters Paul, Minn. She met the Little of the Poor, including New York Sisters in St. Louis. Sister Koeger (three different assignments), said God kept calling and she Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicouldn't refuse. She said she be- cago, Denver, New Haven, came a Little Sister so she could Conn., and Evansville, Ind. Her "love the Lord and take care of advice to those interested in the residents." In the early days of her religious life, Dominican Sister Halloran taught in Catholic grade and high schools in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Later she also served in a diocesan office. For the past 22 years she has served at St. Anthony Hospital as a massage therapist extending the healing ministry of Jesus to patients and family members. Her advice to those who are discerning consecrated life: "Stay open and listen to God's call in your heart." Sister Cammack, a Sister of St. Francis of Penance and Charity, was a nurse when she entered the Franciscans. She has ministered as a nurse in pediatrics, oncology and general medicine in Minot, N.D., and as a parish nurse in the prairie lands of North Dakota. She served at Holy Cross Parish in Thornton as a pastoral associate. She also ministered as the vice president of mission integration at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colo. Currently she is the provincial minister for her order. Her advice to those hearing a call to religious life: "The call to live with others, to embrace the Gospel message and share it with others, and to stand in solidarity with the poor is a blessing even when it is difficult. Come talk with us and be a part of God's compassionate response to the world." Sr. Mary Pierre Jean Wilson Sister Wilson, a Religious Sister of Mercy of Alma, Mich., has a degree in canon law. She teaches canon law in Denver to seminarians at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and to permanent deacon candidates of the St. Francis School of Theology. Before coming to Denver, she served at St. John's Seminary in Boston where she was dean of admissions and records, and director of the Master of Arts in ministry program. She also worked for the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome where she assisted seminaries in Africa and followed the work of Catholic schools throughout the English-speaking world. Before her time in Rome, she was the coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors in Washington, D.C. Her advice to those discerning religious life: "It is essential to spend time with religious—praying, working, talking with them—to acquire an understanding of what religious life is all about. The bottom line is to praytalk to Jesus and be open to where he is leading you."

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