One of the most inspirational women to recognize during Women's History Month

One of the most inspirational women to be in my life is my grandmother Stella Eleanor Werner. She was born in Terre Haute Indiana in 1917. She moved from Terre Haute to the big city of Indianapolis and married my grandfather Harold Francis Werner at age 17. My grandmother grew up during the Great Depression in the United States. Perhaps one of the toughest periods economically in our history. She told me stories of having to wash her clothes with a washing board in the White River in Indianapolis. I never knew how good I had it until I listened to her stories about growing up in Indianapolis. She made me the person I am today and here is why.

World War II ends and A New Era begins

During the war, my grandmother had to take care of her daughters while my grandfather getting ready to leave for the Pacific theater of World War II. I can't imagine how hard that would be. After WWII, he began to work for Naval Avionics in Indianapolis. In 1948, my grandfather suffered a major heart attack. My grandmother, Stella, took good care of him, but she also needed to take care of her three daughters. They needed money for rent, clothing, food and water. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, this is known as physiological needs. The essentials to stay alive. Stella Werner walked all of the way from Harlan street and Southeastern ave in Fountain Square to a company in downtown Indianapolis called Eli Lilly.

She wasn't desperate, but Stella explained to Lilly what had happened and said she would do any job to help take care of her husband and feed her family. Eli Lilly was happy to help out and gave her a job on the manufacturing line. She was grateful at the chance to be able to take care of her family.

My grandmother told me plenty of stories of working at Eli Lilly when I was a young lad. She loved working there. When my grandfather, Harold F. Werner, got better, she decided that she still wanted to work at Lilly. She told me, "a woman's place isn't in the home, it is where she wants it to be". I love that quote from my grandmother. She even told me about the time she got to meet US President Dwight D. Eisenhower! The President was impressed with what the good and hard working people of Indianapolis were doing for our great Country and the World.

Stella 'Eleanor' Werner was a leader in Tech in the 1960s

My grandmother worked hard and got plenty of promotions over the years. She eventually made it into the offices where she worked in pharmaceutical sales and in the computerized division of Eli Lilly. Lilly was an early adopter of computers and my grandmother was there to help set up and use the large mainframes that Lilly had invested in. In my eyes, Stella Werner was a female leader in tech! She talked about the installation of the computers, loading the reels of magnetic tape and helping with the punch cards. My grandmother wasn't just a hard worker, she also loved to socialize. She helped plan plenty of social gatherings at Lilly.

After 31 years at Eli Lilly, Stella retires

My grandparents are among many in my family who worked hard for the city of Indianapolis. I have so many family members who helped make Lilly what it is today. Here are a couple of cool photos where my grandmother mentions her retirement plans (note: I am one of those 10 grandchildren).

This is how honorable Eli Lilly was when my grandmother retired. We need more of this from employers these days. Those who don't study the past are doomed to repeat it.

My grandmother passes but still lives on

In 1992, I told my grandmother that I had got accepted to Purdue in the Engineering program. She was ecstatic! My grandparents were so proud of me. I had gotten an opportunity that they never had - to go to college. I will never forget what my grandmother told me that day "Adam, they can take everything away from you but your education". She even ponied up some money to help me get through engineering school at Purdue.

I never really put much thought into that statement until April of 2022. I now know what she meant by that. People will always try to put you down in order to make themselves look better. It's sad, but true. I still follow in her footsteps though. She was grateful, loving, empathetic, caring and would do anything for me. The picture above is me and my grandmother celebrating our Catholic family tradition of Christmas Eve in Indianapolis. It didn't matter that there were 60 of us; she just wanted to see all of her children, grand children, great-grand children and great-great-grandchildren.

In 2005, my second daughter was born. We knew exactly who to name her after. I gave my daughter the name 'Stella Elizabeth Scroggin' because I knew in my heart she would be as good as or even better than my grandmother. Here is my daughter scoring the game winning goal against HSE!!!

Sadly, my grandmother passed during the COVID-19 pandemic at 103 years of age. COVID was tough on my grandmother as the isolation made her sad. But, she is a STRONG Catholic women and survived getting COVID at 102.

Even at 103, my grandmother always had a smile on her face. Everyone loved her on the south side of Indianapolis, including Eli Lilly. After she retired, she never paid a dime in medication, healthcare or assisted living. This is how good companies treat their employees. I am so proud of Eli Lilly and how they treated my family. The day before she passed, I was able to get approved time off work to spend time with her. She wasn't awake and could barely breath. I held her hand and I cried - I am not ashamed of that either. This was an inspirational woman who would move the heavens and earth to help her family and friends. My grandmother's family, The Newports have done wonderful things for Indianapolis and over 150 family members living all over Indiana now. It would take me the rest of my entire life to write about each individual of my family and their contributions to improving humanity and the world.

You taught me well grandma! I will continue to work hard, always learn new things, stand up for what is right, practice my faith, be humble, love everyone even though they won't love you back. She rests with Bishop Silas Chatard in the Calvary Chapel Mausoleum on the south side of Indy. I still visit her and my grandfather as often as I can.

I vow to teach my own children and the others around me what my Grandma Werner taught me. We all love you and miss you - we all know you are looking down and over us all. And we in return to never forget what you have done for us.

Rest in Peace, your loving grandson, Adam R. Scroggin