Merry Christmas to all, as we quickly come to the close of another year, reflecting on treasured memories of holidays and every day of the past.
While in second grade, our small town Catholic church catechism weekly classes would always be held on Wednesday afternoons after school. And I still have a vivid recollection of one gathering which had all of the students from every grade assembled in the church, prior to our class meeting times. Our young new priest at the time, Father Theodore Mens, addressed us with a short sermon to reflect upon. He spoke on the subject of prayer, and how this faith-based line of communication was our opportunity to talk to God and an opportunity to ask for help by reflecting on our needs and requests that come from the heart.
Father Mens called on me at random during his talk, and asked me in front of everyone what it was that I would focus on the next time I bowed my head for prayer. I answered that I knew exactly what I would prayer for, and it was something that would make me happy: an apple pie.
Looking back 45 years later, I can only surmise that since this exchange happened after school, I was probably hungry, which explains my menu-focused prayer request.
Standing in the back of the church was Mary Roy, a dear friend of our family, who lived just one farm road away on a large farm which had been in the Cervenka Family for many years. Her husband, the late Dick Roy, had worked with my dad for many years. When Mary heard my baker’s dessert prayer order to God for an apple pie, she decided she should help God deliver, and she went directly home and baked a homemade apple pie.
By the time Catechism was over, about two hours later, Mary drove back to our church and presented me with the freshly baked apple pie, much to my own mother’s surprise. My mom thanked Mary, while also countering that “she shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”
Mary’s reply, delivered with a smile, is forever engrained in my head: “Peggy, if all it takes is baking an apple pie to make a little boy happy, and for his dream to come true, then it’s worth the effort.”
This story still makes me smile. And I’m blessed to have it as a wonderful memory.
On Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, Mary T. Roy, a mother of eight, passed away at the age of 93.
Originally from East Chicago, Mary had worked as a telephone operator for Illinois Bell and then Inland Steel for many years before coming to North Judson to care for the Roy Family when she answered a newspaper advertisement to be hired as a nanny, cook, housekeeper and caregiver. Dick Roy had married his wife Lillian Cervenka in 1952 and the couple had seven children before Lillian tragically became ill with leukemia in 1964. Mary was hired to move in and care, for not only Lillian, but also her family.
Within seven months of her diagnosis, Lillian died at age 35 in May 1965. At the time, oldest child Richard was just 12 and youngest Scott was only a year and half old.
Mary was devoted to the family, and her story is somewhat similar to the classic 1966 film “The Sound of Music,” with Mary’s tale casting her in the Julie Andrews role of Maria, minus the nun’s habit and convent.
Mary married Dick Roy on July 9, 1966. Together they had one child, Billy who is three years older than myself. All of the Roy Family children attended our small town Catholic school in North Judson until it closed in the 1960s, and then, they opted to have the children attend San Pierre’s public school.
The Roy Family farm included vast grassy side yards where my older siblings would go to play softball in the summer while also enjoying a large pond behind the house where they could ice skate in the winter. Mary always had hot chocolate waiting for all inside, around the large dining table in a cozy nook area, which included a built-in benches to accommodate the expansive and extended family, as well as friends and neighbors.
My other memories of Mary in my youth, are about her friendship with my own mother.
My parents would attend Notre Dame football games with Dick and Mary and other social activities. After Dick died of a heart attack at age 61 in 1989, Mary never remarried and remained devoted his memory and their family. She would often visit my mom in the afternoon and the two would enjoy afternoon coffee and even helped one another with setting home perms.
Mary loved theater, concerts and the arts. In later years, she was always eager to join my mom and dad, my sister Pam and myself for trips to Chicago for shows, often eating at Marshall Field’s Walnut Room as party of our “city outing.” Two favorite performance memories include seeing the Broadway play “Doubt” with Mary and my mom and sister Pam and much discussion in the car always back home to the farm, and then in June 2013, having Mary join my mom and myself to see the Broadway in Chicago performance of “The Buddy Holly Story,” again, always first dining at the Walnut Room.
Mary is survived by one brother Ben (JoAnn) Moricz; all eight children: Richard (Laura) Roy, Redlands, California; Robert (Theresa) Roy, North Judson; Daniel (Bernadette) Roy, Plainfield, Indiana; Kathy Roy, Lafayette, Indiana; Susan Bachert, North Judson; Nancy (Keith) Riccitelli, Fishers, Indiana; Scott Roy, North Judson; William (Dawn) Roy, Thompsons Station, Tennessee; 17 grandchildren: David, Carey, Angie, Stephanie, Rick, Jennifer, Julie, Molly, Caroline, Kathryn, Alli, Abby, Danny, Patrick, Kelly, Tyler and Tracy; and 13 great grandchildren: Peyton, Lillian, Monica, Lukas, Jett, Reese, Navy, Rich, Tom, Jack, Ethan, Natalie and Theodore. In addition to husband Dick, Mary was preceded in death by one sister and three brothers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home in East Chicago.
Mary loved to cook and bake. Her recipe for her delicious cherry coffeecake is included in my second cookbook “More From the Farm” published in 2007. Today’s recipe for Mary’s homemade spaghetti sauce was shared with me by her daughter Susie. This recipe was idea adorning cooked pasta for serving a large and hungry family of five sons and three daughters.
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, P.O. Box 68, San Pierre, IN 46374.
Mary Roy’s Spaghetti Sauce
Makes 10 servings
2 pounds of ground beef
2 onions, chopped
1 cup finely diced celery
1 quart tomato sauce
2 cans (4 ounce) tomato paste
1 cup water
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
Directions:
1. In bottom of a large stock pot, brown ground beef with onion and celery but do not drain.
2. Add all remaining ingredients to meat mixture and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer sauce for seven hours, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve with spaghetti, prepared according to package instructions.
