Meet Helen Tang Yates

Helen Tang Yates arrived in the United States when she was 11 years old. She grew up in China during WWII where she heard sirens frequently to warn of an incoming plane ready to drop a bomb. Her father secured a job at the United Nations and then sent for his family a year later. Life was not easy for her family. Many adjustments needed to be made as they acclimated themselves to their new home but they found strength in their Christian faith.

After receiving a scholarship, Helen went to Illinois to study chemistry. The day before her college graduation, Helen married. She had three children during the years her husband was in graduate school. Their the family moved to Wilmington after her husband accepted a job with DuPont. She was widowed at 46 years old and raising her children, getting them all through college presented many challenges.

Through her journey in life, Mrs. Yates has known the presence of God, God’s strength and loving compassion. This is one reason why she decided to establish a Charitable Gift Annuity through the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

She has witnessed the outreach of Catholic Charities to children and families, to those struggling with extremely difficult situations, to crisis alleviation, etc. Her Charitable Gift Annuity will eventually support the work of Catholic Charities.

Helen’s empathy for those in need is an inspiration to anyone who meets her.

Meet Ann Roser

Ann Roser has been part of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington since childhood. She lived out of the area for about three years as a child because of her father’s work, but has always considered Wilmington her home.

Several years ago, a friend, who was connected to Catholic Charities, invited her to an estate planning seminar. She attended as she knew it was time to get her affairs in order. During this seminar, the subject of charitable giving came up.

After some thought, she decided to offer a percentage of her estate to be given to Catholic Charities at her death. For her, offering a percentage was better than a fixed amount because the inheritance for her children would be protected.

Ann is continuing through her estate plan what she has done all her life – support the Church and those in need.

Mrs. Margaret Wertz Senior Prom photo – 1948

Meet Mrs. Margaret Wertz

Mrs. Margaret Wertz contacted the Planned Giving Office in Wilmington to let us know of her intention to remember St. Elizabeth’s Parish and School in her estate plans. Mrs. Wertz has been a member of St. Elizabeth’s continuously for 70 years. She attended St. Elizabeth’s School for 12 years and graduated in the late 1940’s.

When she spoke about her employment for 36 years, she said, “I really feel that the excellent education I received during the 12 years I went to St. E’s School enabled me to attain the high position and grade in my employment which normally required a college degree.”

In her will, she is going “to specify that from the amount the Church will receive that a memorial, full 4-year scholarship be awarded to a St. Elizabeth Elementary School student who wishes to attend the high school.”

She is more than grateful for her experience and education at St. Elizabeth’s and she wanted to offer a gift in return. We, in the diocese, are grateful for her goodness and generosity.

To see if a Bequest would meet your needs while supporting the Catholic Church at the same time, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (302) 573-3125.

Emile Dernier Meet Emile Bernier Mr. Emile Bernier moved to Maryland with his wife in 1985. He came to Maryland from the "Big Apple" where he worked in the District Attorney's office in New York City. The spaciousness and quiet beauty of Maryland's Eastern Shore drew him to small town living. Mr. Bernier met his wife, Helene, in France during World War II and they settled in New York after war. They raised two beautiful daughters. The great sadness of his life was the death of his wife in 2000. And before this loss, Emile attended to his mother's needs with exquisite sensitivity until she died in 1999, one month short of her 103rd birthday. Mr. Bernier heard about Charitable Gift Annuities quite a few years ago and realized that establishing a Gift Annuity was a wonderful way to support the charities he loved while receiving income for life. He says, “My gift annuities will help me maintain my standard of living for the remaining years of my life and also help the Charitable Organizations that help those in need.” To see if a Charitable Gift Annuity would meet your needs while supporting the Catholic Church at the same time, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (302) 573-3125.

Joyce and Joseph Mueller Meet the Muellers by S. Margaret Mahoney I visited Joyce and Joseph Mueller in June and I came away from my visit inspired by their support of each other, their family and the Church. In all that they shared with me, tender love was evident and overflowing in the lives of two wonderful people. Joseph and Joyce are “a retired couple”, so to speak. They’ve been happily married for more than 57 years. They raised eight children who all graduated from Ss. Peter and Paul High School in Easton and, who from all accounts, are following in their parents footsteps – becoming loving and compassionate people. Joyce was an organist for more than 35 years at her local church. Both Joyce and Joseph taught CCD for a number of years. Joe is a 4th degree Knight and a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Joe was and still is a cantor at Holy Child Chapel in Bethlehem. The beginning of their married life together wasn’t easy. At times it was down right difficult working a farm with an insurance business on the side and raising eight children. But everybody in the family helped. According to the Muellers, "We have been blessed by God and establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity for the benefit of our Diocesan schools was a way for us to give back." Joseph and Joyce are special people. They are examples of how many couples, widows and widowers, young and not-so-young persons are living their faith and acting as good stewards of the resources and gifts they have received. Thank you, Joseph and Joyce, you inspire us!