Pennsylvania great-great-grandmother nets $1.2 million Cash 5 jackpot

Oct 11, 2021, 11:47 am (30 comments)

Pennsylvania Lottery

Upgraded lawnmower is on the way

By Kate Northrop

EPHRATA, Pa. — A great-great-grandmother has big plans for her yard after winning a $1.2 million Cash 5 jackpot in the Pennsylvania Lottery.

83-year-old Lillian Hess of Lancaster County has been playing Cash 5, the Lottery's longest-running game, for years. Her persistence has finally paid off to the tune of a $1.2 million jackpot from the Sat., Sept. 18 drawing.

"The funny thing is I usually check my numbers when the TV station has the drawing on, but I changed the channel, so I didn't see it," Hess said in a press release. "After I got my Sunday paper, I saw it. I started screaming for my son to come and double check!"

Sure enough, her ticket matched all five balls drawn, 11, 12, 15, 28, and 35, to win a grand total of $1,207,938.50.

Hess has eight children, 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren, and although winning the lottery came as a shock, she'll be happy to help out her family.

"It was a lot to take in," she admitted. "I'm going to pay my mortgage off and give some of it to my kids. I'm still working, at home, sewing."

Aside from paying off her mortgage and giving to family, Hess has one more thing topping her to-do list — buy a brand-new lawnmower.

"One of the things I'm going to do is buy a new mower! A riding mower!" the winner exclaimed. She says she still mows her grass at 83.

On Wednesday, Lottery officials presented a commemorative check to the winner of the $1.2 million Cash 5 jackpot at the store where the winning ticket was bought, Charlies Fuel & Deli on W. Main Street in Ephrata.

"We were excited to her that Lillian, a long-time customer of our store, won the big Cash 5 jackpot," store owner Charlie Rutt told the Lottery. "Being a Lottery retailer allows us to not only offer entertaining products, but also help the growing senior population in Pennsylvania. Many thanks to customers and employees for making this all possible."

For selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the store received a $10,000 bonus, and while both Hess and the retailer are celebrating the big win, the Lottery is also gearing up to commemorate a special event.

"Thanks to players like Lillian and retailer partners like Charlies Fuel & Deli, the Pennsylvania Lottery is able to do a great deal of good for older Pennsylvanians," Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko said. "The Lottery is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary in March of next year, and over those 50 years we have generated more than $32.6 billion in benefits for senior programs."

 In March, the Lottery's Cash 5 game relaunched as Cash 5 with Quick Cash, which offers a separate chance to instantly win $2 or $6 at odds of 1 in 4.71.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Unkyshoe's avatarUnkyshoe

Congrats Lillian!

But with eight children, 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren, you have to cut your own grass?

sully16's avatarsully16

This is by far the best story of the year, Congrats to Lillian and her persistence . Party

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Hmmm...

Finally the 'lottery benefits seniors holds true!'

 

Congrats to this winner.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Party Congrats to the Winner! Party

dannyct

It is totally irresponsible to publish her identity, the elderly lady will come under enormous pressure to "help" relatives, not to mention strangers. It is way past time to give all winners the right to anonymity.

Mata Garbo

One the best aspects of this story is the fact that she still receives a Sunday newspaper. Glad to see  those are not completely extinct. Congrats to Lillian and best of luck with the new riding mower. Be careful with those sharp turns.

CheersCoolWinkHiding Behind Computer

cassdreams's avatarcassdreams

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Oct 11, 2021

This is by far the best story of the year, Congrats to Lillian and her persistence . Party

Hurray!ILovies

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

Every so often a good feeling story comes along, and this is one of them

Congrats Lillian!

NearNewBrit

Quote: Originally posted by dannyct on Oct 11, 2021

It is totally irresponsible to publish her identity, the elderly lady will come under enormous pressure to "help" relatives, not to mention strangers. It is way past time to give all winners the right to anonymity.

I Agree!

Bleudog101

Congratulations to her.   It was a nice story but to have a mortgage @ 83???   I suspect, and hope I'm wrong and not being judgmental about this.   Somehow feel some of her offspring may be bottom feeders.   They will bite the hand that feeds them.  After taxes and all that many people who will have their hands out it'll be gone quickly since after taxes it has already had a big chunk taken out.   Hope she takes care of Numero Uno first.

billybucks

Quote: Originally posted by dannyct on Oct 11, 2021

It is totally irresponsible to publish her identity, the elderly lady will come under enormous pressure to "help" relatives, not to mention strangers. It is way past time to give all winners the right to anonymity.

No one bothers winners of only 1.2 million before taxes.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Good thing she's not in California.

Gavin Newsome and his fellow leftists have decided that everybody there has to switch to all electric mowers, leaf blowers and weed wackers by 2024.

I guess people out in that land of fruits and nuts just love being told what to do since they didn't remove this tyrant when they had the chance recently.

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Oct 12, 2021

Congratulations to her.   It was a nice story but to have a mortgage @ 83???   I suspect, and hope I'm wrong and not being judgmental about this.   Somehow feel some of her offspring may be bottom feeders.   They will bite the hand that feeds them.  After taxes and all that many people who will have their hands out it'll be gone quickly since after taxes it has already had a big chunk taken out.   Hope she takes care of Numero Uno first.

I caught that too. But...I'm 67 and I still have 9 years to go on mine. Wife and I refi'd to get a better rate 6 years ago, now she passed away and it's just me.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Oct 12, 2021

I caught that too. But...I'm 67 and I still have 9 years to go on mine. Wife and I refi'd to get a better rate 6 years ago, now she passed away and it's just me.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Buckeye.

May God hold you and keep you and bless you.

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