As interviewed by Pat Wiedemer
A Life for LIFE, A hundred years of learning, loving, living FOR LIFE
“Well, what other option was there, except to be for LIFE?” Wilfred Driscoll answers me with a determined look in his eye, when I asked the question, “What moved you to spend your life FOR LIFE?”
This past month, I had the great pleasure to sit with Wilf and hear his story. Born in 1922, he had to leave St. Dunstan’s University just three days after he arrived because of his father’s sudden death. It was September 10, 1939, and on that same day, war had been declared. What a fateful start to a young man’s life!
As the oldest son he returned to run the farm in Mt. Herbert and support his mother and the younger siblings. He was just 17. After the war he graduated in 1950 from St Dunstan’s, started selling Co-Op Life Insurance, and continued this for 42 years. In 1954 he married his beautiful wife, Mary Rossiter an RN, had 5 daughters, 7 grandkids, and 2 great-grandchildren! Wilf and Mary were married for 64 years living and loving LIFE. This July, Wilf will celebrate his 100th birthday!
Wilf has lived his entire life for LIFE. He has sat on the boards of Birthright and PEI Right to Life, and he continues to support us as a champion member of PEI Life. He has faithfully engaged in his parish and the Island community. Today he resides at The Mount—“the best place ever to be,” he remarks—and takes part in activities throughout his busy week, and regular contact with his daughters and grandchildren.
We pondered many things in our conversation. I was curious to learn if there was anything that he would have done differently for LIFE on PEI. “We can’t go back. We just carried on and did the right thing. Giving up was not an option,” he replies. Abortion used to be an unthinkable, shocking act. And now? Wilf fired back: “Who talks about it now? So many have just forgotten or accepted the death of so many babies!”
Asking him for advice, he said: “We also need to reach the men. They need to be part of the conversation,” he concludes.
I thanked him for the wonderful legacy of LIFE he has left for us on PEI. His good works of living LIFE to the FULL do and will bear much fruit for LIFE on PEI.
Wilfred Driscoll is a living sign that perseverance and commitment for something greater than oneself — is worth living for. LIFE is worth every bit of love for one another. Is this not the very essence of the Easter message?
PEI Life is dedicated to helping Islanders to live LIFE like Wilf has. Our hope, prayer and goal is to fuel the next generation to carry the legacy of LIFE – from conception to natural death. And for this we say thanks to YOU and to Wilfred Driscoll.
