My name is Roswitha Valdez. I was born in Crailsheim, Germany, in 1958 and grew up in a little farming village with 14 other families. We weren’t farmers. My mother was a widow with five children and very little income.
During the harvest season, my family would help harvest potatoes and sugar beets. My best friend and I would have a contest to see who could pull the most beets, which made it fun for us. Our pay for harvest work was potatoes, canned meats, vegetables, eggs, and freshly-baked bread. If you have been to Germany, you know bread is an important “Food Group” to Germans.
One of my favorite childhood memories is when my mother and I went to the Catholic Charities in Crailsheim to receive some used donated items. I was six years old and in heaven when I was allowed to pick out a blue doll carriage (I can still see it in my mind), a doll, winter boots, and a warm jacket. I’m forever grateful for all the help we received from Catholic Charities.
My mother passed away when I was 14 years old, and I went to live with my much older brother and his wife. I thank God for bringing my husband and me together. Oscar was in the Army and stationed at McKee Barracks in Crailsheim. Lucky me! We were married in 1981 and moved to the US in November of 1982. I was excited and scared to move to a new country far away from my family. In 1987, the Army stationed Oscar in Bamberg, Germany, for three years, so we were able to live in Germany again. After six different moves, we were moved to Colorado Springs in 1994. We fell in love with Colorado and decided to retire from the Army in 1998 and stay here.
I started volunteering at the Marian House on Wednesdays in 2004. I used to come in at 7 a.m. to help with food prep, and then I helped with serving. Things changed during COVID, and now I arrive at 9:45 a.m. and help wherever needed. During lunch, I usually serve veggies.
I’m happy to come here. I have met so many wonderful, warm-hearted, selfless individuals, both young and old alike. Some of them have become good friends. I enjoy giving back and helping those in need within our Colorado Springs Community.
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