By Irene Moschner
Director of Philanthropy
Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana
Reflection
I find myself frequently attending funerals. There are several contributing factors for this phenomenon. I have reached the age where friends of my parents and parents of my friends are passing away; people my own age are dying; donors and donor family members are going to their eternal rest. Funeral liturgies can be both inspirational and introspective. I love hearing eulogies from family members, they share thoughts, memories and stories that bring the rest of us into a deeper relationship with the deceased and their family. We hear what was important to them; they share funny stories; and they give us a glimpse into the soul of the one they have lost.
A friend who recently passed worked in a profession that required business attire, including the wearing of a tie. He also attended a Catholic High School that, you guessed it, required the wearing of a tie. Over his lifetime, Michael accumulated more than 300 ties. At his funeral, the ties were on display and the family invited everyone to take home a tie or two. There were so many to choose from: seasonal ties, plaid ties, paisley ties, ties with bright bold colors, and a limited number of more sedate ties. Ties that did more than fulfill the required dress code for Michael, they were a small way to express his large passion for life. His family intends to donate the remaining ties to his alma mater, so students who may have forgotten to wear one may borrow a Wittgen tie.
Michael’s family were very passionate about their Catholic faith and Catholic education. One way his parents, Richard “Dick” and Janice Wittgen, supported vocations was by having the parish priest over for dinner. All of their children attended Catholic school. They were actively involved in all aspects of the parish. Janice continues her faith through prayer. Michael’s passion for music meant that, even when he was not singing in the choir, his was the strong voice from the pew inspiring those around him to join in singing the praises of the Lord.
Herman and Lillian Wittgen were Michael’s grandparents. With a portion of their estate, his parents created the Herman and Lillian Wittgen Catholic Education Endowment to help provide a Catholic education for the children of Holy Redeemer Parish. The passion for learning continues with that endowment gift, a connection which forever ties the family to future generations who seek to learn about their faith through Catholic education.
If you would like more information about creating your own family legacy, please contact the Catholic Foundation, 812-424-5536, [email protected].