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Charitable Gift Planning

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Planning Ahead for Retirement

As Clem and Rita Wight of Norwood prepared for their retirement, they began making changes in their busy lives.

The couple lived in Needham during the first 16 years of their marriage, then moved to Prince Edward Island for another 16 years, later moving back to this area and settling in Norwood. Today, they are parishioners at nearby St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

A daily communicant, Clem remembers walking seven miles to Mass as a boy on his native Prince Edward Island, where he grew up on a farm as one of 12 children in the family. One of those children would become a priest, Reverend Howard S. Wight, a retired Royal Canadian Air Force chaplain and pastor of St. George Parish on Prince Edward Island. Father Wight died in 1986.

Not surprisingly, supporting the Church is important to Clem and Rita, who grew up in Norwood.

“During my working days, I didn’t do much for charity. I was too busy on the job. I was a salesman. Now, I have time to help people in need,” says Clem. “I receive double benefits from the charitable gift annuity we created. I get a good feeling about giving, and the annuities provide us with a supplement to our income.”

“We want to leave our money where it does the most good,” adds Rita. “Where else would you put your money that it will do so much good?”

“It’s important to start pre-planning at a young age,” Clem points out. “Retirement age is here before you know it. If you haven’t planned early, you won’t have anything to retire on.”

“You’re never too young to start,” Rita agrees.

“We are thankful for the gifts we have and that we are able to arrange some kind of plan for the future,” adds Clem. “In addition to the financial benefits we receive, we have the feeling that we are doing something good with our money. It is being put to good use.”

“If any money is to be given, it will always be given to the Church. That’s how Clem and I feel. Among other charities, our final Will and bequest is designated to the Church,” Rita sums up.

For more information about Wills and bequests or other gift planning options, call Leadership Gift Officers Dick Murphy at 617-746-5675 or Michael Rhodes at 617-746-5929.