Rosella Maes: beauty of Christmas decorations

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — Rosella Maes reached 100 years old on November 1, 2016. That means she has seen 100 Christmas celebrations. What does she remember the most?

“The beautiful decorations,” she stated. “There were lights and greens.”

Maes, who was born and raised in Glenwood City, and stayed here with her husband, August, to raise their family, said she does not retain many Christmas memories, but can still describe what St. John the Baptist Catholic Church looked like every year for Christmas mass.

Childhood

Rosella Maes was born in Glenwood City to Alfred and Mary (Hirsch) Klinger. She is the youngest of seven children, and said that her parents and siblings did not spoil her, but she did greatly enjoy being the youngest in the family.

Not that she was treated any differently than her siblings. Rosella said she did chores and helped out around the home as much as she could.

Maes said her family never had much when she was a child, and so she does not recall specific gifts, but she recalls always going to Mass on Christmas morning before settling down to a meal of pork, turkey, chicken, or goose. Sometimes her family would make things for one another as gifts, and her mother tried to have special treats for the day.

It was not easy growing up without many things, Maes said, but when she was very young she did not notice the lack.

Adulthood

Maes married August Maes in 1937, though she does not remember exactly when. The couple operated a dairy farm just outside Glenwood City and had four children: Mary Ellen, Madonna, or Donna, Marlene and Mark. 

When August was not farming, he worked in construction. He died in 1973 after he and Rosella had been married for only 36 years. He was 59 years old.

The family first went to a small country church near their farm, but decided after a few years to travel into Glenwood City each Sunday to attend services at St. John the Baptist.

Again, Maes remembered the beauty of the church, lit up with candles, decorated with greenery, and all the faces of her fellow parishioners as they celebrated Christmas Mass together. 

Though she says her family was not much more well off than she was as a child, she still tried to find a way to make Christmas special for everyone, even if it was just a homemade cookie or cake to share, or putting together a small gift.

She does not recall specific gifts she gave or received, but does remember Christmas Day was one day where everyone in the home relaxed a little more from their usual farm duties. 

Old age

Maes now resides at Glenhaven, where she consented to an interview before going to a birthday party for one of her neighbors there. She said she does not get as much into Christmas now that she has gotten older, but she still enjoys seeing the bright lights and decorations.

She commented the designs have become more complex, and sometimes the lights bother her eyes, but she still likes to see them.

And, of course, she still hopes to see the decorations at St. John the Baptist whenever she is able.

“I wish you could see them,” she said. “They’re so, so beautiful.”