Lucille M. (Wiench) Bressler was born on March 4, 1903. Lucille was the youngest of seven children. When she was only five, her father died leaving her mother with a large family and a farm that had to be worked or the family would lose it.

Since her mother had to spend all her time trying to keep the family sheltered, fed, and clothed, she left Lucille’s care to Lucille’s older sisters. As Lucille aged, she grew to love and accept our Lady as the mother she felt she didn’t have.

Lucille’s mother was her hero, even though she wasn’t able to care for Lucille as much as Lucille would have liked during her childhood. Lucille’s love of the Blessed Mother stemmed from the prayer life her mother exhibited at home. Since Lucille’s mother was so devoted to our Blessed Mother, her imitation of that devotion is understandable.

Lucille married Harry Bressler in November 1931. Harry’s first wife had died, leaving him alone to raise a teen-age daughter and a young son by himself. In time, Lucille and Harry added four more children to their family.

During the last twenty years of her life, Lucille always had her rosary at her side. She lived with her daughter, Shirley, toward the end of her life. Shirley shared with me that Lucille loved to read and would often get up during the night to finish a story. Many times when she arose in the morning, Shirley would find an empty coffee cup, an open book, and Lucille’s rosary on the table.

Lucille remembered us with a gift from her estate. Her final gift was a “thank you” to the Virgin Mary. She always said, “If you ask the Blessed Mother for help, it will come, but be sure to say “Thank You.”

I invite you to follow Lucille’s example by making a gift to our Lady’s Association in your will. Click here to receive a free brochure to help you in your estate planning and to learn more about how you can become a member of Mary’s Legacy Society by remembering our Lady’s Association in your estate.