By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
With a new home on Florence Street in Evansville, Habitat homeowner Monyette said her mother, who died last year, “can finally look at me and say, hey, you grew up.”
A home dedication was held Nov. 13 in the 1500 block of Florence Street for Monyette’s home, which is the 633rd build for Habitat-Evansville in Vanderburgh and Posey counties. This home was sponsored by Catholics for Habitat and the Moll Family Foundation.
“This whole entire time it was God,” Monyette said. “It was nobody but him that kept me moving and just praying and being in faith.”
She thanked her pastor and her pastor’s wife, the sponsors who contributed, the core crew, Catholics for Habitat and the Moll Family Foundation.
Monyette specifically asked for the home dedication to be done Nov. 13 because it was her deceased mother’s birthday.
“If you all knew my mom, she probably would have given every member of this core crew a run for their money,” Monyette said. “She would have been out there with her hammer, right along the way working because that was just her. So I wanted to do this for her and just let her know that she can finally look at me and say, hey, you grew up.”
Billy Thompson, Habitat-Evansville faith relations manager, said there was “so much life” in the room Nov. 13 during the dedication. He explained it is a Habitat tradition to choose a word to describe a new Habitat homeowner. The word the staff chose for Monyette is faith. Starting on this journey, there was this hope, faith and expectation of something that was hoped for but she could not see it yet, Thompson said.
“You couldn’t see it yet, and it was faith first and foremost in the Lord,” he said. “Faith also that you had in yourself. I’m going to stay with this, I’m going to stay the course. And look at this. This isn’t not yet seen anymore. So we are grateful for faith. We are grateful for that in your life.”
Rachel Hirsch and Sarah Wassmer, two of the three daughters of George and Dianne Moll and two of the Moll Family Foundation’s board members, presented Monyette with the keys to her new home. Hirsch said it was “such an honor” to be with Monyette and to celebrate her brand new home. Wassmer said they were honored to be there and even to have been the tiniest part of her journey.
“Your tenacity, reading your biography, your perseverance, the unwavering belief in your dream to own this home is truly inspiring,” Wassmer said. “We pray that this home that you worked so hard for brings you joy, stability and generations of love and warmth and memories.”
Craig Blessinger of Catholics for Habitat presented Monyette with a crucifix during the dedication. He said they were extremely blessed to be a small part of her journey.
“We have a crucifix here tonight that is the representation of not only Jesus’ sacrifice but your sacrifice as well,” Blessinger said. “So in those times when life is tough, this is something you can look to. But also when things are good, you can hope for better times and hope for the good times to continue. And that’s right here, all in this symbol of that sacrifice.”
Luke Nordine, chairperson of Catholics for Habitat, said they understand and appreciate the hard work and dedication from Monyette to complete the 300 sweat equity hours, in addition to having a full-time job and owning a business.
“We really admire that and we’re proud to have someone who is a woman of faith and family that can come together and make what is a house now into a home,” Nordine said. We’re really thankful for God bringing us all here together today, and we’d like to thank the faith community as a whole for making this possible. And for Sarah and Rachel, the Moll Foundation, for joining us on this journey.”