FOR LONG-TIME ST. Timothy parishioner Tina Haeussler, a lifetime of service and volunteering began with lessons from her parents, who taught her about hospitality.
She recalled, “Growing up, my home was often filled with family and friends, dropping by for food and fellowship.”
Openness and hospitality became the simple life principles that built the foundation of Haeussler’s 38 years of service at St. Timothy.
Haeussler was born in Calexico, California, and grew up in and around the Los Angeles area. While living in the Chavez Ravine neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, she attended Our Lady Queen of Angels School. Haeussler made her First Communion in the Historic Plaza Mission Church. The building of Dodger Stadium necessitated that the family move, and they settled in nearby Highland Park. St. Ignatius became the family parish, where Haeussler’s father became active in the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and as an usher. Haeussler and her brother Marty attended school at St. Ignatius, and it was during this time that the family became immersed in church service. They attended various parish events, and Haeussler recalls always helping to set up for these events and clean up afterward with her father.
Haeussler then started attending St. Andrew’s High School in Pasadena and experienced the life of a happy teenager. She was a good student who also “loved Rock & Roll music.”
As a junior at St. Andrew’s, she met Bob Haeussler, a student at a nearby school, and soon, the two started dating. But the couple experienced some family challenges with their newfound romance. Haeussler recalled that “my family was unhappy that Bob was from a different faith, and his parents were unhappy that I was Catholic.”
Ultimately, love won out, and the two were married in October 1959, after Tina graduated from high school. They went on to raise four children. Bob converted to Catholicism in 1963, feeling that, as Tina said,” he wanted our family to be of one faith.”
While the couple lived in Glendora, they attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend that “changed our lives as we grew closer to God.” This event was pivotal in the couple’s decision to join ministries together. They joined their pastor and a small group of parishioners to bring Communion to residents in a local convalescent home. Bob’s career working for the State of California took the family from Glendora to Sacramento and ultimately to Laguna Niguel in 1987. From 1984 to 2004, when she retired, Tina worked for the State of California. The move to Laguna Niguel included joining a new parish at St. Timothy. In 2003, after his retirement, Bob became involved in the Outreach Program, assisting needy families. This later evolved to become the St. Vincent de Paul Society, of which Bob was elected the first president in 2010. This became a dual involvement, with Tina working along with Bob on projects such as The Backpack Project, Thanksgiving Dinners and The Giving Tree.
After retirement, Tina volunteered to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult men and women with the Orange County Literacy Guild. Meanwhile, she was drawn to the food pantry at St. Timothy, often dropping by to help. In 2009, the couple running the ministry took a leave of absence, and Tina volunteered to take over. She has continued running the ministry to the present day, supported by what she calls” a wonderful assistant and an amazing group of 40-plus volunteers.” This ministry currently provides food to 120-140 needy families per week. Bob sadly passed away in 2014. Tina called him “my rock” and often quotes him, “When working with people, err on the side of compassion.” Although Bob has passed, Tina has the support of her large family.
“I cherish the time I spend with my family,” she said. “Those times are filled with joy, happiness and laughter.”
Some 16 years later, Haeussler still manages the food pantry, bringing joy and sustenance to people weekly. She continues to focus her ministries on “living life to the fullest and with a purpose; to love sincerely and give to others.”