In memory of Josephine Catani. She passed away January 1st. She did me the honor of bringing me into her family, not when I married her granddaughter, but much earlier, at her dining room table, with one word--Mangia. I can never repay her for that.
The Four F's.
Food Friends Faith Family.
These are the words used to describe her.
Food Friends Faith Family
Food Not to eat herself, Not to indulge in Not to fatten Never to eat alone But Food to serve others Food to gift Food to create Food to turn disorder into order In Her kitchen Food to build community, To serve friends, To service faith, And always, always To build a strong family.
Friend Friend to so many Not just fun and games, Not just Wine and Bocce But friend as a virtue Loyal Respectful Friend is hospitality to all Welcome to strangers Friends to serve, Friends to love Loyal To Her Community To Her Neighborhood To Her Church and faith Always, Always Loyal To Her Family
Faith Strong dedicated Catholic Obedient and full of faith A place to serve To turn disorder into order To find friends To define Family The center of Her community From earliest schooling Until today Faith in God Faith in the Church Faith in Her friends Faith in Her community Faith in Her Husband And always, always Faith in Her family.
Family Always, always family. To serve Her family To grow Her family To turn disorder into order At least in Her family Whatever was needed Whatever would help Always, Always family She was dedicated to Her parents and grandparents in their day, Aunts and Uncles too numerous to count, Sisters far and close Always close no matter how far, Husband, and Children, Grand Children, Great Grand Children Their wives and husbands and families The Hill, The Church, And Thankfully, me. Always, Always Family And when the rest was forced from her by age When food became too difficult to cook When one by one, friends passed on When the Church became to hard to visit. There was still Family To hold her up To comfort her To provide for Her as she had provided So generously So abundantly So graciously For them To love Her as she loved them. Unconditionally, Unceremoniously, Unquestionably, Love Always, Always The Family
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
That was lovely.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :