Saint Vincent de Paul parishioner receives award for her volunteer service from the DAR

Courtesy photo/Frances Merrill

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Lily Gaitin (center) is honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award. Also shown are Cindy Toone (left) Utah State DAR Regent; Kathy England, Utah State DAR Community Service coordinator; Art Gaitin accompanies his wife; and Frances Merrill, DAR Regent of the Princess Timpanogos Chapter, who nominated Gaitin.

SALT LAKE CITY — Lily Gaitin, who has been volunteering her time and talents in the community and as a member of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish for more than 50 years, was honored with the Community Service Award by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at the Murray City Library on Sept. 19.

The DAR is a patriotic, lineage organization that requires its members to have had an ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War that helped bring independence to America, said Frances Merrill, of the Princess Timpanogos Chapter of the National Society of the DAR. Among their activities are essay contests for school students, placing wreaths in veteran cemeteries at Christmas and arranging the programs for naturalization ceremonies when people become citizens. There are 400 DAR members in Utah and nine chapters.

"Lily is not a DAR member, but her exceptional volunteer service throughout her life qualified her for the Community Service Award," said Merrill, Gaitin’s neighbor of 30 years. "I have observed her over the years and what stood out was the amount of service she gives to her church. She has made thousands of sandwiches for the homeless and is now in charge of the food bank at St. Vincent de Paul Parish and was named the parish Woman of the Year in 2002."

Gaitin also serves as the parish funeral coordinator, as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and launders the altar robes and altar cloths.

In addition, Gaitin called bingo and filled in when the aerobics instructor at the Heritage Senior Center moved. "She has a generous nature and a genuine concern for others," said Susan Gregory, director of the Heritage Senior Center.

Monsignor Francis Mannion, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, noted Gaitin is the coordinator of the parish food bank and oversees all the activities of the program. "She also serves as a liturgical coordinator of the worship services of the parish," he said. "She prepares and trains volunteers and makes sure that things run smoothly."

St. Vincent de Paul Parish Deacon John Kranz has known Gaitin for eight years and said she is the driving force in giving aid for countless members of the community. "She has provided hope to hundreds of families who have experienced economical difficulties by providing food and gifts during Thanksgiving and Christmas. She is a wonderful role model in our parish community and displays tremendous faith and zeal in all aspects of a religious life."

St. Vincent de Paul Parish Deacon David Osman has been both a friend and colleague of Gaitin’s for more than 10 years. "She is a devout Catholic who attends daily Mass and participates in various prayer services for the sick and dying," he said. "She is a tremendous asset to the church and the Christian community."

"I love what I do and I never get tired," said Gaitin. "I only hope I can keep doing this for a long time."

Gaitin and her husband, Art, have been married 63 years. "I got married when I was 15 and Art was 17," she said. "I had three children by the time I was 19. I now have seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

"I love volunteering because it makes a lot of people happy and it keeps me going," said Gaitin, who learned her work ethic from her parents growing up on a farm. "I have to give credit to my husband because he helps me with all the heavy work. We make sure all the candle containers are filled and clean and the holy water fonts are clean. People don’t realize all the little things that need to be done."