Organist still going at 98

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Nov. 8, 2007

LARCHWOOD - Two thousand weekends, more than 600 practices and 270 funerals are among the times that Emma Lucas has played the organ in 40 years at St. Mary's.

This almost 98-year-old woman said she continued to play because "I just did." She'll hit the 41-year mark as organist this February.

"I never thought of stopping. I like to play and I like the choir members. I call them my second family," said Lucas. "I liked playing for all the Masses."

Don Ripperda has been the choir director at St. Mary's since 1974, so he has worked with Lucas for many years. Lucas said she gets along well with him.

"There is nothing like Emma and I working together," he said. "We have worked together an awful lot. Emma told me once, Father Fangman asked her to be the organist. He wanted someone to stick around for a long time and she did for 40 years."

During her 40 years, the priests who have served at St. Mary's include Fathers Robert Fangman, Edmond Adams, Gerald Fisch, Francis Nemmers, John Vakulskas and now Jeff Schleisman.

"Emma is here for all the Masses every week. She always comes and never misses," said Father Jeff Schleisman, pastor at St. Mary's. "She has played for every funeral over the years. She is faithfully devoted. You can count on her to always be here."

When Lucas started playing, she was also the cook at St. Mary School in Larchwood. She would cook for the students, play for a funeral and then go back to the school.

"Two years in a row the inspector came on the same day as a funeral," said Lucas.

In August, the church switched to a digital organ so Lucas has been getting used to playing it.

"I liked playing the other organ better," she said. "The sound comes out different on this new one."

Father Schleisman pointed out that the digital organ is able to record music.

"We wanted to make sure that Emma's music keeps playing for many years to come," said the priest. "We want to keep it for generations to come so everyone can hear and enjoy."

Prior to playing organ at St. Mary's, Lucas played piano with a band for about 10 years. They played at the Moose Lodge in Sioux Falls so they were called the Moose Band.

She has seven children, five boys and two girls, all who attended St. Mary School. She also has 38 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren and 12 great great-grandchildren.

"When I was learning to play the piano, wherever she was in the house, she would say, 'that's not right Veronica,'" said Veronica Weins, Lucas' daughter who lives in Littleton, Colo. "She has been a wonderful mother."

Her daughter pointed out that not only has her mother played organ for 40 years, but she also bowled for 40 years. She stopped bowling at the age of 92.

"When she was 81 years old, she bowled a 609 series," said Weins.

A celebration will be held in the future when Lucas official decides that she is going to retire. Ripperda said that Lucas talked about retiring 15 years ago.

"We talked about what the choir was going to do when Emma retired," he said. "She just kept on and kept on. We started saying she is going to outlive most of us."

Father Schleisman said Lucas let him know several months ago she might retire but has continued to play.

She will play at midnight Mass for the 40th time this Christmas.