November 19, 2010
The Heart of a Gift: The Leo ‘Simon’ and Evelyn Paul endowment
Leo and Evelyn Paul are seen in a formal portrait.
By LINDA COX (Executive Director, Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, Inc.)
For many years, Simon and Evelyn Paul and their family have been parishioners at St. Wendel Church. So, it is no surprise to learn that several generations of the family are now buried at St. Wendel Cemetery. St. Wendel is also the parish where Simon and Evelyn were married and where their children attended Catholic school. The story of the Leo “Simon” and Evelyn Paul Endowment is one of caring for the ancestors of their family and the many other families of St. Wendel, forever.
For many years, Simon Paul was a part-time farmer who worked for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. Following the death of his wife, Evelyn, in 2001, Simon was asked to substitute for the person who was mowing the parish cemetery. In 2002 the regular volunteer, Elmer Schmitt, had been ill so Simon welcomed the opportunity to be of service until Elmer Schmitt was able to return to his position. Simon loved spending time with others and always enjoyed doing things for his church. Once Elmer Schmitt was feeling better, Simon offered to step aside to allow Elmer to continue his mowing. Simon soon learned that Elmer was happy to relinquish this task and for the next seven years, Simon Paul faithfully mowed the parish cemetery as a volunteer.
Simon took enormous pride in this volunteer activity, always making certain that the cemetery was in perfect shape for any event at the church. The cemetery crew appreciated every-thing that Simon did for the parish and they developed a lasting friendship. Simon enjoyed spending time at the cemetery where it was peaceful and found comfort being in the presence of so many family members and loved ones.
Simon Paul passed away in July of 2009 at the age of 85. Everyone knew that they had lost a friend, parent and long time volunteer to the parish. During the burial, the family noticed a lawn mower on top of the hill that is known as the “new” part of the cemetery. As they looked closer, they could see that the cemetery crew had mowed the shape of a heart into the grass and that they had placed the lawn mower next to the heart. The family even bur-ied their father with a key to the lawn mower in his casket.
In the days following the death of Simon Paul, his children were not surprised to learn that their father had made provisions in his will for a gift to be given to St. Wendel parish. His daughter, Doris Taylor, recalls, “Dad always enjoyed doing thing things for the church and enjoyed the company of his fellow parishioners. We were not surprised that he had left a gift to the parish that had brought him so much comfort.” The children contemplated how to make this gift to the parish and yet keep the memory of their parents alive. With the help of their pastor, Father Ed Schnur, they decided to start an endowment for the perpetual care of the cemetery. The Leo “Simon” and Evelyn Paul Endowment was established earlier this year and the distribution from the endowment will benefit the cemetery each year.
“Our father would be proud to know that his gift will live on and care for the church cemetery that meant so much to him,” says Doris. Creating this legacy in their parent’s memory will forever honor their parents and the service that their father gave to the parish.
For more information on establishing an endowment at your parish to honor or memorialize a loved one, contact the Catholic Foundation at it website, www.catholicfoundationswin.org, or by email at lcox@evdio.org. A minimum gift of $5,000 is required to create your own Catholic legacy at your parish for your specific intentions. If you would like more information on contributing to an existing endowment, please contact your parish or the Catholic Foundation at (812) 424-5536.