Ann White:
CLASS OF 1956
Saint Rose SchoolClass of 1956
Lima, OH
St. Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeClass of 1960
St. mary-of-the-woods, IN
Ann's Story
Life
Ann Simons Klaus White:
Five children
14 grandchildren .. ages 14 thru 23
In 1959, I married my childhood sweetheart, one of eight siblings. My life dream was to be married, having many children while providing a wonderful home filled with love and laughter and family. The dream of many girls, but my childhood was a bit lonely, A Mom who was ill & a great Dad who owned his own drug store requiring many long hours of work, seemed to make that an extra special need.
One by one the children came along and life seemed good... until 1968. Our 5th & last child was born that summer and during the months before I had been sensing problems.
In late August of that year, my husband was transferred, moving us from Ohio to Maryland. Just days after moving into our new home with four young children and a three-month-old baby, my husband told me he was having a serious affair & our marriage could end in divorce. I can't possibly explain the emotional response to such devastating news. After an ocean of tears, hoping and praying that somehow with God's help we could put things back together, I began the journey of acceptance. Two years later in 1970, the children and I moved back to Ohio. I continued to pray that God would change these circumstances but to no avail...we were divorced a year and a half later.
A single Mom, no career & five children, ages two through ten. Only a year and a half of college... a lot of growing up was needed, taking much time and many tears. After a year of learning to cope a bit, a relative/friends husband, a Realtor helped me follow that same path, I became a Realtor.... a good choice that carried us through many ups and downs over 4o yrs. Not many can say they love their work .. but I loved helping people find their perfect home! And believe it or not, all the kids graduated from college! My oldest son went back to finish his final classes for a degree in 2007, just for me. So I could fulfill my dream from back then...that somehow, they would all graduate from college! He already had a successful career but that year he thanked me with a special Birthday gift. A framed letter & diploma thanking me for guidance & raising a close, loving family! What a marvelous gift!
Unknown to me, God was always there watching over us even though I had given up on trusting Him with my life. I thought He gave us...Expand for more
gifts but we were on our own in putting them to use. I married again in 1982 and my husband was a great help those last years before the children were on their own. Back and forth to college and 5 weddings. I'm not sure I could have done it alone! A blessing to have someone to share the rest of my life.
The children's Father lived several states away so the children saw him only once or twice a year. They always wished for more... and then he died in 2003. Now that would never happen... so they closed that chapter of their lives, bringing some level of peace.
I could write a book on the ravages of divorce! Many problems surfaced over the years..... even a parent who leaves is loved. They came to feel God spared them from possibly even more heartache, still ... a sadness lingered. They are all excellent parents making sure their children have a Dad who loves them & is there for them, as well as their Mom!
Those early years were very difficult. Mine was the only divorce in two large Catholic families! In fact, I had never even known a divorced person! Where do you turn? The church in those days was not particularly welcoming. Surely Jesus would reach out with help to mend a broken family? I searched over 12 years thinking I needed all the answers as to why this had happened. Why had God not intervened? Surely He wanted our children to have a Father! If He was all powerful, He could have changed this situation, When He didn't, I just could not trust Him again. I should have been taught about Job! (And that is another story! There are many, many things that Catholics are not taught!) I had to be brought to my knees, to the point of desperation!
With the love & prayerful guidance of new friends, I finally surrendered in faith without all the answers. I learned God works all things together for good when you love and trust Him. I felt like St Paul on the road to Damascus....no lights, no voices, just scales lifted from my eyes...and little miracles. Within weeks all my doubts were gone and I knew that I knew for the first time in my life! If only I hadn't been so stubborn.. I wasted precious time looking for the why's, but He was there waiting patiently all the time.
This journey would never have been my choice but finding Jesus, "The Pearl of Great Price" made everything worthwhile. My life has been changed forever!
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