Continuing a Legacy of Faith

Carol Mulder

Carol Mulder's mother, Marie White, passed away five years ago. Marie left a larger portion of her estate to Carol because she was the only one of her siblings still practicing the Catholic faith. "Before she died, she told me, 'If I give you extra money now, I want to make sure that you return that to the Church as you can,'" Carol says.

Marie was heavily involved with Risen Christ Catholic Community from the beginning of its formation, and Carol soon joined in its parish life with her mother. Carol also followed her mother's footsteps in accounting. Marie helped with the church's bookkeeping until a year before her death at the age of 92.

"My mom was amazing and giving. She was so kind! She gave me my work ethic," Carol says. After attending a seminar for estate planning at Risen Christ, Carol decided it was time to make her will and bequeath 20 percent of her retirement funds to Risen Christ. "I'm leaving the money to them specifically for the upkeep of the building. I've been on the finance council for years, and I know how important it is to have money for the maintenance and repair of the building."

The community and friendships at Risen Christ are important to Carol, and her love of the parish is something that she shared with her mother. Carol still sits in the same spot each Mass, where she and her mother used to sit together. "It's where I go to regain my peace and get my center back. Risen Christ is my family, and we're so close-knit. Monsignor da Silva is awesome; he's the glue that holds our family together."

Carol is thrilled to be able to give to her church in honor of her mother. "It's a privilege to be able to give," she says.

You, too, can make a gift to support the Church's important work and Catholic mission after your lifetime. To learn more about your options, please contact Margaret Hampton at (208) 342-1311, ext. 5139 or mhampton@rcdb.org.