Father Jaki News

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/04/fr-stanley-jaki-osb-rip/

Fr. Jaki

Please continue to pray for Father Jaki. It seems he is not doing well, they can't operate until he recovers from an infection, and the infection is now overwhelming. They are giving comfort to him, and expect he will die soon. He is in Spain where he was on a lecture tour.

Father Jaki is a great Chestertonian, a genius, a physicist, a lover of life, the winner of the Templeton prize, and a brilliant author of many books. Almost every one of his books contains numerous Chesterton quotes, for he loved Chesterton and saw him as a Seer of Science, his book title about Chesterton's wisdom in the realm of science.

Frank and Ann Petta: The Wall

Miki Tracy writes:

I took a couple of photos of 'the wall' in the kitchen at Frank and Ann's house. I couldn't resist. It was one of the best things about that house! Almost of the books and art were already gone by the time I got there, so it didn't really feel like 'the Pettas'' anymore, but the wall is one of a kind, so I memorialized it.

Click on picture to enlarge.

The Last Bottle of Petta Wine

From Sara B:

Miki Tracy led us in toasts to Frank and Ann with the last bottle of last year's Petta wine -- found unopened in Ann's refrigerator, and just enough for the group's toasts.

Art Livingston regaled our table with tales of early Chicago meetings, including Frank Sheed's appearance. Read more.

I called Bernice Haase, who mothered us through the Milwaukee conventions and took such good care of Fr. Dave Wilbur. She sends on her best to all of you. She is still shoveling her own snow, which doesn't surprise any who know her. She opines that milking cows in the early morning, as she did as a young woman, is far more conducive to a long and active life than sitting at a computer. Amen.

Ann's niece will send out corrected holy cards to those who left addresses in the condolence book. I'm sure Ann got a good laugh from having two years subtracted from her age.

Old timers would have known Bernice from the Milwaukee days. She sat at the back door of the Cousins Center to make sure people weren’t locked out and got their room keys while the rest of us were down the hall at the conference – many met her before they met the rest of the Chestertonians. I don’t think she got to hear a substantive lecture the whole time we were in Milwaukee. I got Dale and Laura to get flowers for Bernice, Frances and Ann one early year in St. Paul as the mothers of the Chesterton conference. Thanks Sara B. for this report.

Ann's Obit

Ann Petta of Elgin A funeral Mass for Ann Petta (nee Stull), 82, formerly of Hyde Park, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Elgin. Read more. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass Thursday morning at the church. Born Dec. 3, 1926, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Wilfred and Irene (Taylor) Stull, she passed away Sunday, March 8, 2009. Mrs. Ann Petta was born Ann Stull in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Petta moved to Chicago after graduating from Webster College, a Catholic women's college at the time. Mrs. Petta, or Ann, moved to Chicago to work at Friendship House, an organization dedicated to improving race relations. Mrs. Petta taught English at Kelly High School in Chicago for 30 years. In addition to teaching, Ann was interested in solar energy and became very involved in the Pro-Life Movement as well as promoting and enjoying the writings of G. K. Chesterton. Mrs. Petta was a founder of the Hyde Park/Kenwood Pro-Life Association in 1984, and the Respect Life Committee in 1980. Mrs. Petta was a board member of the Illinois Federation for the Right to Life and the Illinois Right to Life Committee. Mrs. Petta worked with other Pro-Life and pregnancy help organizations including the Pro-Life/Pro-Family Coalition, where she worked closely with Dr. Hiram Crawford Sr. and Dr. Hiram Crawford Jr. Mrs. Petta was a founder of The Midwest Chesterton Society and active in The American Chesterton Society. A daily communicant at her Catholic parish, St. Thomas the Apostle in Hyde Park, then St. Thomas More in Elgin, Mrs. Petta's Catholic faith filled her with joy and gratitude. Her joy was engulfing to those who met and knew Ann. Her sense of mirthful awe, wonder, and piety pointed to the charitable Catholic approach to God, and all who knew her felt the persuasion of her faith. Mr. and Mrs. Petta were appreciated in the Chesterton circles for their "Petta wine" made from grapes picked near their cottage in Michigan. No Chesterton gathering was complete without that delicious, if mysterious, basement fermentation. A large group of nieces, nephews and cousins with surnames of Stull, MauIler, Hilliard, Brown, Hobold, Taylor, Diehl and others, survive Mrs. Petta. She also held dear her large group of friends from all areas of her life. She was preceded in death by Frank Petta, her husband of seven years. Memorial donations may be made to Human Life International, National Right to Life, any Pro-Life organization, and to The American Chesterton Society. For information, 847-741-8800.

Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from 3/10/2009 - 3/11/2009