Warming hearts and hands even after death

By KATIE LEFEBVRE ,Globe staff reporter
February 16, 2006

One Sioux City parishioner's legacy of kindness continues even in death.

Emily Westrich, a parishioner at St. Boniface in Sioux City, helped people in many ways including knitting mittens for children in need of keeping their hands warm.

"When Mark and Emily Westrich came to Sioux City in the late 1980s, no one suspected how far-reaching their influence and care would be for the young people in the area," said Carol Kelzer, a parishioner at St. Boniface. "This is especially true of Emily who naturally did what was needed and never wanted any type of recognition for her efforts."

Emily was killed in an automobile accident on Nov. 11, 2005.

"She contributed to the care of children in more ways than most of us would ever imagine," said Kelzer. "Emily was the kind of person that everyone loved because she loved everyone. She had this wonderful, warm smile. She would reach out and help anyone in any way. I think carrying on that kind of a legacy by trying to be that kind of person would be up to us. We should do that as Christians."

Many Siouxland children have benefited and are still benefiting from the simple outreach of this one woman who knitted mittens as she relaxed or watched TV.

"Emily was just that kind of person. She was always reaching out to others," said Kelzer. "She did a lot of crafts. She didn't sit around and watch TV without doing something."

Her husband Mark commented that this was something that was "easy for her to do. It enabled her to do something for people in a simple way."

This one project, knitting, was a favorite pastime for her. Emily regularly filled sacks of colorful mittens and walked into St. Boniface rectory with them, Kelzer pointed out.

"She wanted no credit, only that the mittens be distributed to anyone in need," said Kelzer.

Children in the school and in the religious education program received them. Children receiving gifts from the St. Boniface Advent Angel Tree would often find an extra pair of warm mittens in their packages as well.

Supplies of these mittens were also given to the parish rosary society to sell at the monthly First Friday luncheons and First Sunday breakfasts. The money from those sales go back to the church.

According to Kelzer there was a sack at the St. Boniface office full of mittens for people who came to the door in need of them. She pointed out that most of the mittens were given and not sold.

"Although Emily has gone from us physically, it is certain that she still looks lovingly to earth, watching over the many children whom she helped in schools, scouts, dance squads, camping experiences and many other activities. Not the least of these is her effort to keep hands warm," said Kelzer.

Mark explained that the continued giving of the mittens means a lot to him.

"I think it touched a lot of people. It is nice to know that some kid somewhere has warm fingers because they are inside Emily's mittens," said Mark.