Aunt Lucille Henry died this past week. She was 106 years old. Her funeral was Friday. This blog is dedicated to her. The first segment is something I wrote two years ago on the occasion of her 104th birthday. The second is a poem that I wrote, attributed to my mom who loved writing poems but who had died eight years earlier. And the last part is a poem that was on her funeral card.

Aunt Lucille’s humble faith, kindness, and compassion was an inspiration. I hope that this blog gives you a bit of insight into who she was, and as a result provides inspiration for you as well.

“And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13

“Oh you’ll find out someday.”  Aunt Lucille

A week ago Aunt Lucille turned 104 years old. That’s right, ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR!

For all but three of those years Aunt Lucille has lived in Exeland, Wisconsin.  Located in the north woods of Wisconsin, Exeland is primarily comprised of a post office, a bar, a convenience store, a couple of churches and a cafe.  Aunt Lucille owned and operated, served as chief cook and yes, even bottle-washer, for seventeen years, and then her daughters Laura and Peg took over with Aunt Lucille helping her. 

The Exeland Café was her pride and joy.  It was like a child to her, and her customers like members of her extended family.  The café specialized in hearty home-cooked meals, the kind that your mother used to make!  REALLY! And that’s because Aunt Lucille was also a mom, and two of her daughters worked with her in the café.  The menu was simple, and the meals were served with a lot of love and genuine love and care for her customers.  Generous servings of roast beef, meat loaf, or roast chicken were accompanied by a vegetable and mountain of mashed potatoes.  For dessert there were amazing pieces of almost any type of pie your heart could desire, the favorite being peanut butter.  Of course, Aunt Lucille made all of this—including the pies—by hand. She’d wake up at 3 a.m. every day to start preparing.  Except Sundays.  Sundays were the Lord’s Day and Aunt Lucille observed it religiously.

She was raised in a devoutly faithful family and became a Methodist at an early age.  As she tells the story there was a time when her Sunday school teacher insisted that she stop playing music with her dad on Saturday nights at dances.  She ignored her Sunday school teacher and kept playing with her dad. 

God was and is at the center of Aunt Lucille’s life.  She attributes part of her longevity to that fervent faith, and not smoking or drinking of course. 

Think of the changes Aunt Lucille has seen in her 104 years.  She was born in 1919, the year “The War to End all Wars” was ending.  She was a small girl during the roaring 20’s, though they roared in a different way for her, as her dad, Joseph Jeremy, ran a sawmill at Nail Creek (yes, that’s the actual name of it) about five miles outside of Exeland, where the family lived. She lived through the Great Depression.  They were as “poor as church mice”.  She experienced life during World War II, during which she and her husband Alan moved to Southern Wisconsin for a short time and she worked in a munitions plant.  Aunt Lucille saw the rise and fall of communism, the Vietnam War, and The Cold War.  She has seen the advent of air traveler and watched as planes went from propellers to jet-engines, and witnessed the Apollo space missions and Man walking on the Moon.  Aunt Lucille has experienced the full gamut of life in the age of technology including radio, television, telephones, cell phones and computers.  She has lived through 19 U.S. Presidents.  She has seen first-hand the effects of The Spanish Flu, Polio, Measles, and many other diseases.  Maybe that’s why Covid didn’t phase her, not one bit!  She mourned as she grieved the loss of her parents, her six siblings, nephews, nieces, and other relatives too many to recount.  And through all of this she has remained a rock of resiliency and a premier example of what it means to live filled with faith, hope, and love.

Her faith is not the kind one sees on display on television unless it’s the Hallmark channel.  Hers is a simple and humble faith.  She wakes up early every day for bible reading, devotion, and prayer.  She goes to church on Sunday.  It was a highlight of mine last year to go to her small Methodist church with her.  I don’t remember what the sermon was about or what hymns we sang, but I do remember how warm it felt sitting by her.  There’s a lesson in there somewhere about what it means to be in the presence of God.

Her hope is grounded not in promises of politicians (though I think she’s a republican), or economic stability, retirement funds, savings accounts, or any such transient thing.  This world, she would tell you, is passing away.  So her hope is based on nothing less, that Jesus’ blood and righteousness (those are lyrics from a hymn that I’m pretty sure Aunt Lucille knows).  That hope is what has allowed her to have such an optimistic outlook on life.  She is convinced, that nothing in all creation—not even Covid—can separate her from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Ahh, the love of God in Christ.  That’s at the center of it all for Aunt Lucille.  She knows that love, though I doubt if she talks about it much—at least not in the sense of trying to proselytize people.  She lives it.  She loves her family.  She loved her customers.  She told me she couldn’t believe how many birthday cards she got from them.  She loves others, whomever they might be.  Hers is a warm and welcoming love.  To be with Aunt Lucille is to be touched by God.  No, not just touched, but embraced.  

I’m looking forward to that embrace.  Hopefully in May.  Definitely eternally.  What will that be like? I can only imagine, but I guess I’ll find out for sure someday.

Lucille’s Happy 100th Birthday Poem (From Sister Jeannie)

Happy birthday Lucille,

This is your great big day!

100 years “young”,

You’ve come a long way!

When looking back now

Over the years of your life,

You can celebrate your accomplishments,

As baker, mother and wife!

You were born the dear child,

Of Susan and Joe,

Surrounded by siblings,

Together in love you would grow.

Florence and Vera, Viola and Jeannie,

And Alvin and little Jimmie.

We’d play and laugh together

With a shake and a shimmie!

Growing up was a challenge,

There were some very hard years,

But our laughter and love,

Took the place of our tears.

That time went too fast,

Soon you were all grown,

You got married and moved

To start a life on your own.

Blessed with three daughters,

Donna, Peggy, and Laura,

You raised them in the northwoods,

Surrounded by fauna and flora!

You taught your dear family,

The essential values in life,

Faith, love, and trust in The Lord;

These give such great joy and ease all your strife.

You shared with them your gifts

Of music and singing,

When your family all gathered,

There was “heavenly” ringing

You bought the Exeland cafe,

So you could bake your great treats,

Cooking delicious lunches

And mouth-watering sweets!

Your pies are amazing,

None to compare can be found.

The fame of your peanut butter one

Makes people drive from miles around!

In the midst of your years,

You’ve had your share of sadness,

But your family and faith,

Have filled your life with gladness.

You’ve said goodbye to your loved ones,

Over these many years,

In the midst of your grieving,

You’ve shed not a few tears.

But your rock solid faith

And your God-loving gladness,

Is an example for all

Of how joy replaces sadness.

Those of us who’ve gone before

Are celebrating with you today,

And we’re all lifting up

A heavenly hooray!

One day you will join us

Here in our heavenly home,

We’ll laugh and we’ll play

And we’ll sing and we’ll roam.

There’s a banquet awaiting

Of heavenly treats,

A mountain filled with goodies,

Of choice food and sweet treats!

But today and tomorrow

And for many days and years more,

You must enjoy your earthly days,

Surrounded by friends and family galore.

You’ve got kids and your grandkids,

And great grandkids as well,

So many wonderful family members,

Aren’t they all swell?

You’re the matriarch of the family,

The hero and apple of their eyes,

That’s why they have plotted

This 100^th birthday surprise!

It’s a reminder dear Sis,

Of how much you are loved,

By so many on earth,

And the multitudes in heaven above!

As for us here in heaven,

We’ll just have to wait,

To love, hug and kiss you

At the heavenly gates.

So keep on a loving

And singing and praying,

And cooking and baking,

And laughing and playing!

And teaching us all

As we run this human race,

What it means to live fully,

In God’s love, joy and grace!

THE WATCHER

“She always leaned to watch for us, Anxious if we were late,

In winter by the window. In summer by the gate.

An though we mocked her tenderly, Who had such foolish care.

The long way home would seem more safe, Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us, She never could forget,

And so I think that where she is She must be watching yet.

Waiting until we come home to her, Anxious if we are late,

Watching from heaven’s window, Leaning from Heavens Gate.”\