The month of October is devoted to praying the rosary. The Central Minnesota Catholic invited people to share their rosary stories. This is one in a series.
Eileen Hoheisel, a member of St. James Parish in Randall — part of the Haven of Mercy Area Catholic Community — shared a photo of two deeply meaningful rosaries made by her daughter Cari Stumpf.
Each rosary was crafted using beads formed from flower petals, preserving cherished memories in a beautiful and prayerful way. The first rosary was made from flowers in her grandmother’s wedding bouquet, saved since 1937.
“It’s doubly special because it was the first rosary she ever made,” Eileen said.
Cari, who is a member of St. Joseph Parish in Pierz, got the idea to make the rosaries from a friend who had had one made with the flowers from a family member’s funeral. As she looked into ordering one, she decided that she could actually make it herself.
“She grew up seeing me make rosaries for our Mission Circle,” Eileen said.
Cari found the molds and resin and looked up how to make a rosary. She has since made quite a few rosaries with flower petals, including the second rosary pictured above that was created using flowers from her father’s funeral last winter.
Eileen’s granddaughter made her a corded rosary last Christmas, she said. She hadn’t had it blessed, but she took it to church the next Sunday.
“My husband leaned over and whispered ‘That’s not blessed,’ but I said it was OK,” Eileen remembers. “That rosary was in my husband’s casket and is buried with him.”
Eileen prays the rosary regularly and treasures the connection it gives her to her family.
“I love having those physical things to hold on to,” she said. “The flowers that my mom carried on her wedding day and the flowers that covered my husband’s casket.”
Every rosary has a story. What’s yours?
We invite you to share your story and a photo with us!
Email: communications.office@gw.stcdio.org
We’ll feature submissions on our social media throughout October — the Month of the Rosary.