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Chili event raises funds, honors friend
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Wanda Davis (right) entered into the chili competition for the first time this year. She welcomed guests to her table with friendly decorations, and with help from her family, Susan Kilar (right) and little Dylan Davis.
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To win the approval of the public during the Chili Cook-Off, contestant Jere Morris (left) served her customers, and added cheese and sour cream if her visitors preferred.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .At the Jan. 23 Sue Hernan Memorial Chili Cook-Off honoring his late wife, Don Hernan (middle row, holding granddaughter) had lots of support from his immediate and extended family. Hernan credits his family for helping him get through a tough year.
By SARAH FOOR
For 10 years, Sue Hernan chaired Boardman United Methodist Church’s annual chili-cook off competition. While she was not able to continue her service this year, her spirit was still there.
Hernan passed away last Aug. 1. So in her honor, organizers renamed this year’s chili event the Sue Hernan Memorial Chili Cook-Off, which was on Jan. 23.
Cathy Pokrivnak took over as chair of the event this year.
“Sue was a wonderful soul — she had a missions heart and led groups to Mexico and New Orleans. She loved to raise money for missions any way she could,” Pokrivnak remembered. “Her spirit was here with us, though. We found her notebook for the event, and it was like she was guiding us in our journey.”
Buoyed by friends and family honoring Hernan’s memory, this year’s event doubled its participants with 18 chili entries.
Don Hernan, Sue’s surviving husband, attended the event and entered his chili into the competition.
Votes were tallied by dropping tickets into each cook’s basket. Hernan’s chili won the competition by a margin of five votes, with entrant Fred Hively a close second. The cook-off raised $1,800 to fund future church missions.
“This has definitely been a rough year for my family. The last time I saw most of these people, it was a very sad time, so it’s great to see all of us in better spirits. This event is helping me heal, and it has been a wonderful, uplifting experience,” he explained.