A mother of seven, Mary sought creative ways to serve nutritious meals within a tight budget. She always managed to have a tasty dessert ready at the end of lunch and dinner.

Her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren can tell you that she can always be relied on to have a tasty treat on hand when they visit. They enjoy these delights with lively conversation about their lives, their jobs, their studies, and their thoughts about current events.

Mary graduated from St. Margaret's Academy 60 years ago, but has never stopped learning. She was taking college night school classes when her children were in high school, and has traveled to Ireland, England, France, Italy and Israel. Now in her eighties, she still plays the piano daily, and studies Spanish with the help of software on her home computer.

What a great example.

mary's date bars

1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup melted shortening, margarine or butter Preheat oven to 350. Cook dates, sugar and water until smooth. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Cool and set aside. Combine flour, brown sugar, soda, salt, oatmeal, shortening, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Press half of the crumb mixture into a 9x13 cake span. Spread with date mixture and then remaining crumb mixture. Pat down and bake for 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars to serve.