MONROE - Rebecca Elizabeth Maske didn't talk much about her work when she was alive. But she has become a surprising benefactor.
Rebecca's parents, Robert and Janet Maske of Park Falls, presented $1,500 from the Rebecca Elizabeth Maske Memorial Fund to the Green Haven Family Advocates, Inc., Friday night.
Receiving the check was vice president of the Green Haven board, Mary Gafner.
The donation was bittersweet for Gafner and Robert Maske; they were classmates in the Monroe High School graduating class of 1964.
Becky, as her parent's call her, graduated from Argyle in 1993 and earned her degree in criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1997. She worked as a probation and parole officer in Milwaukee for nine years. Becky died suddenly Feb. 12 from a viral infection.
Becky is buried at Apple Grove Lutheran Church in rural Argyle, in the family plot of her mother, also from Argyle.
Becky was very generous, as her mother learned. After opening her daughter's mail, Janet learned that Becky was a regular supporter of an organization against child abuse.
If that weren't enough, Becky's liver and left kidney were donated to two men in Illinois.
Janet said her daughter's case load at work leaned heavily toward convicted abusers.
"She said her job was to get them off the streets so they can't do it again," Janet said.
Becky's work with abusers was stressful and her co-workers asked her why she did it.
"She told them, 'because then I know where they are,'" Janet said.
"She was very independent," Robert said. "I guess I raised her that way."
Alice Franks-Gray, interim director of Green Haven, said the donation is "gold."
"Any discretionary money we receive helps cover expenses that fall outside our grants," she said. That includes immediate expense like food vouchers and clothing for victims of domestic violence. "We are incredibly grateful for the Maskes' gift and their willingness to honor Becky in this way."
Rebecca's parents, Robert and Janet Maske of Park Falls, presented $1,500 from the Rebecca Elizabeth Maske Memorial Fund to the Green Haven Family Advocates, Inc., Friday night.
Receiving the check was vice president of the Green Haven board, Mary Gafner.
The donation was bittersweet for Gafner and Robert Maske; they were classmates in the Monroe High School graduating class of 1964.
Becky, as her parent's call her, graduated from Argyle in 1993 and earned her degree in criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1997. She worked as a probation and parole officer in Milwaukee for nine years. Becky died suddenly Feb. 12 from a viral infection.
Becky is buried at Apple Grove Lutheran Church in rural Argyle, in the family plot of her mother, also from Argyle.
Becky was very generous, as her mother learned. After opening her daughter's mail, Janet learned that Becky was a regular supporter of an organization against child abuse.
If that weren't enough, Becky's liver and left kidney were donated to two men in Illinois.
Janet said her daughter's case load at work leaned heavily toward convicted abusers.
"She said her job was to get them off the streets so they can't do it again," Janet said.
Becky's work with abusers was stressful and her co-workers asked her why she did it.
"She told them, 'because then I know where they are,'" Janet said.
"She was very independent," Robert said. "I guess I raised her that way."
Alice Franks-Gray, interim director of Green Haven, said the donation is "gold."
"Any discretionary money we receive helps cover expenses that fall outside our grants," she said. That includes immediate expense like food vouchers and clothing for victims of domestic violence. "We are incredibly grateful for the Maskes' gift and their willingness to honor Becky in this way."