John was with me today. It surprised me because I haven't felt him around in a long time. I didn't know why I felt him near today until tonight when I checked my email. My friend sent me Mae Robert's obituary. Her funeral was today, and I feel certain that John attended it with her. So, I guess he was in the neighborhood.
John met Mae in Provo when he saw her hitch hiking to the temple. He gave her a ride that morning and continued to give her rides almost every morning at 6am for a long time, eventhough he wouldn't otherwise have been out and about at that time of day. They became very close friends and Mae would call John any time she needed something. He helped in her garden, gave her rides, took her cat to the vet, picked up groceries for her, and spent many hours listening to her stories. I went with him sometimes. We'd sit on her couch and listen to her tell us about her life story, her friends in her ward, how much she currently owed on her house (which she always knew to the cent because she was obsessed with getting out of debt), and most frequently her conversations with President Hinckley. I don't know if any of them were true. Most of the stories seemed implausable, but it was nothing but endearing. I've never met anyone who loved the brethren so much. Whatever they asked of us (from planting a garden to getting out of debt), Mae was sure to do right away. She proudly hung a letter on her wall from President Hinckley's secretary as proof that she and the prophet were close.
After reading the obituary I'm sure President Hinckley did in fact know who Mae was. But I am even more sure that Heavenly Father knows and loves that amazing woman. I cried when I read her obituary, but it was a good cry. I cried because her life is one of the most inspirational stories I've ever heard. She was poor and uneducated and hunched and mentally insane after a long life of hard knocks, but I can only imagine the gorgeous radiant woman she is now as she reunites with the host of angels who now keep her company, one of whom I'm sure is John. I can't think of a more beautiful example of what the plan of salvation is all about.
I'll never forget Mae. Someday I hope to be half the woman she is...and I mean that with all my heart. I often let myself get distracted by tryng to be all the wrong things, but Mae stands as a reminder of what it means to be truly great. If baby John had been a girl I was planning on naming him Abby Mae Jones in honor of Mae Roberts.
We love you Mae.
The following is her obituary:
Mae Lorraine Bowman Roberts
Born January 28, 1932 - Merrill, Wisconsin
Died February 3, 2011 - Salt Lake City, UT
Mae Roberts was able to peacefully leave this earthly existence after many years of loving service and dedication. Many of us remember Mae, as that bent over dedicated lady walking down South State Street in Provo pulling a wagon with two garbage cans full of aluminum cans. Many of you stopped to give her a ride as she walked in the heat of summer or as she was walking to the Provo Temple hours before daylight in very cold weather. Some of us were fortunate enough to be able to help.
Mae was born in Wisconsin and placed in an orphanage at birth. She was told she had a stroke at birth and for years they did not think she was teachable. Mae said she saw her mother once when she was 9 years old. Her mother was dying in a Tuberculosis Ward at a hospital. She never met her father. She worked in a factory when young and always walked to work even when it was very cold and snowy.
Mae was baptized into the LDS church on May 23, 1973. She moved to Utah in 1976 and celebrated her baptismal date each year by spending the full day in the temple from open to close, and on her birthday would order a steak dinner at Los Hermanos.
Her life was simple - get up - read scriptures - go to the temple - go pick up cans and once every week would bake many loaves of whole wheat bread to last her a week and peanut butter cookies to give to others. She loved being with close friends and children on the holidays, baking and cooking for them.
Mae had a love for music and sang for many years in her church choir. She loved the leaders of her church and enjoyed writing to them and sending them birthday cards. She received several responses from them. Over the years Mae completed many thousands of temple ordinances. Can you imagine the reception she received when she crossed over from mortality, from all who are waiting to say thank you with an embrace, and welcome her home.
Mae made a promise to herself many years ago that if Heavenly Father would help her get out of debt, she would pledge to give $100/ yr to the Primary Children's Medical Center. The very day she made this promise she was able to get out of debt. Her donations have far surpassed what she promised to give. For 22 yrs she accomplished this by collecting thousands of pounds of cans and other metals to recycle and then selling them to metal salvage every year. The entire yearly proceeds were pledged to the Primary Children's' Hospital through the KSL Telethon. In recent years she has been recognized by KSL for her giving during theRadiothon Celebrity Dinner, though she did not like the lime light. One of the last promises she asked was that her pledge be made in her behalf again this year.... when they announce they will match the pledge with a "double" donation.
Thank you Mae for your example of dedication and love.
We will celebrate Mae's life at her funeral (directed by her wishes) 11 AM on Tuesday February 8, 2011 at the Bonneville 1st Ward Chapel 85 S. 900 E. Provo, UT Visitors welcome at 10 to visit. In lieu of flowers please make a generous donation to the Primary Children's Hospital (When it is double!)
