Corona D’italia Lodge #807 100th Anniversary Recap

Corona D’italia Lodge #807 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the organization of one of the first Italian Societies for women. Guided by the late
John Statti, whose wife, Mary, was a polio victim, urging the women to form a social network. The Lodge began with 77 Charter members on December 31, 1917.

The Charter organizers were Sylvia Bellora, who served as the first Venerable{President) Rola Pesce and Luigia Rubino. Recognized as the Founders are, Bellora, Angelina Fraschetti, Vittoria Port, Frances DeMartini, Mary DiThomas, Ida Colavincenzo, Lulu Bevivino and Dena Parascenzo. All the Charter and Founder members are deceased as are the Venerables that followed, Concetta Biordi, Vittoria Nardini, Rosina Simurra, Annetta Biordi, Angeline Sirimarco and Ann Venezie.

Under their combined leadership the Lodge evolved to 300 members. Serving as Past-President. Louise Vitullo, and President, Clemmy Sirimarco, now strive to lead the present day membership in continuing the heritage of contributing to the civic and social well being of Ellwood City
and all the sister members.

Serving as the 2017-2019 Administrat ion are President, Sirimarco, Vice-President, Ann Butchelli, Past-President and Treasurer, Vitullo, Orator, Valerie Valentino,Secretary, Jackie Perno, Historian, Mary Jane Folino, Trustees, Marlene LaCava, Patricia Regna, Dr. Francine Bond, Mistress of Ceremony, Mary Quintanilla, Guard, Lois DiFrischia. Alternate Delegate, Est her J. Santilo, and Past Trustee, District #16, Mary Ann Sirimarco. They also served as the committee for Chairman of the event, Ann Butchelli and Co-Chairman, Valerie Valentino.

Entering the SOl Memorial Hall, arrivals were greeted by DiFrischia and member Anita Chafin who presented them with an engraved Corona 100th Anniversary pen and program. A memorabilia table. centered with a large decorated sign proclaiming the event was surrounded by albums of pictures and writings that had been assembled by Chairman, Ann Butchelli and provided a history of the many facets of the workings of the Italian women Pictures, momentos, and a beautiful bouquet of red roses were also provided by Elena (Prosperini) Peterlin in honor of her late grandmother, Annetta Berardi who served as the
President for 33 years. Quintanilla provided albums that she has created to maintain an ongoing history of the lodge.

All in attendance were served punch by Folino and Santilo and were treated to Italian pastries, fruit trees and candies provided by committee members
and artfully arranged by member Margaret Cancelli. Aurora,s Catering provided the Italian buffet of salad, pasta and meatballs, chicken spumanti, potatoes and sides. Dessert was an anniversary cake designed and made by Kimmel’s Bakery.

Emcee, Quintanilla, welcomed all to this proud event and introduced the CoChairman, Valerie Valentino. Expressing her appreciation to all her committee and members for their support and help, she recognized Chairman Butchelli who is recovering from a fall in her home. Butchelli expressed her appreciation for all the concern and prayers afforded her and in Italian she expressed best wishes for continuing the Lodge into the next 100 years. Patricia Regna vocied a commerative and prayerful invocation and invited all to partake of the dinner. Frances Folino povided complimentary piano music throughtout the day.

President, Sirimarco, was recognized and she expressed her gratitude to all the committee and pledged her support to the future success of the Lodge. She presented the officers with corsages. Trustee, Regna then presented the president with a monetary gift from all the lodge members. Butchelli and Valentino were also gifted and each expressed their gratitude.

Valentino read a letter presented by Jackie Perno, from her Grandson, Ian Patterson, a recent Corona D’italia scholarship winner, who is in college, performng
and will be studying in London in 2018. Perno also presented letters to all the members and guests, from Elena Peterlin expressing her thoughts and congratulations on behalf of and in memory of her Grandmother Berardi. She and her husband were unable to travel from Virginia due to illness. Valentino called on Guy Calabro, also a grandchild of Berardi, who spoke about her involvement with the local lodge and the state and national lodges. She traveled to meetings and conventions reporting back to the local level, keeping the women involved with the intent and purpose of the lodge. She also worked her husband and family and grandchildren to maintain that Italian heritage.

Valentino introduced Frank LaGrotta, his mother Loretta (DeThomas) Lagrotta, the daughter of founder Mary DeThomas, and his father Francis LaGrotta. Frank spoke on his memories of the lodge and his grandmother’s role as the treasurer. He remembered her close friends who participated greatly in the lodge’s activities in earlier days. He served as the go-for on a monthly schedule and admitted that he did enjoy the work. Valentino called on Marino Parascenzo, son of founder Dena Parascenzo. Recalling the meetings being held at their home, all speaking in Italian, he gave his mpression of the women from his view as a 10 year old. His mother was always involved in the lodge’s doings,so he gained more insight as he grew with the lodge. Giving examples of the will of the women to be a part of the American life and their ability to expand their talents, he offered congratulations to the lodge and it’s future.

Valentino recognized Christine (Sirimarco) Nelson, daughter of Past Grand Trustee of District #16 and secretary of the Lodge, Mary Ann Sirimarco. She was here to represent her mother who was unable to attend due to her medical condition. Christine spke of her memories of dinners and banquets that she attended with her mother, Grandmother,Angelne Sirimarco and her Aunt Clemmy. There was always great food, bingo, warm smiles and kind words. She commended the tenacity and commitment of all the previous officers and members, and all the present day lodge members. Expressing her gratitude for all the support and encouragement afforded her mother, she also commended the Memorial Scholarship Program. Noting that her brother was a 1980 recipient of a scholarship that played a part in his long and successful career as an electrical engineer.

Concluding the program, Valentino expressed appreciation to the presenters on behalf of all the lodge. Perno and DiFrischia awarded door prizes of a blanket and pillow donated by Valentino and won by Regna and a money tree, donated by Perno and won by Michael Folino. The Lodge extends gratitude to the Anna Amadio family for the Christmas tree and decorations, the Sons of Italy #608, Stacy Richards for the sign and Hurricane candle centerpieces, flanked by North Carolina pine cones provided by Lois DiFrischia, Michael and Marie Folino for providing the keyboard and their donation of their winnings to the Corona Memorial Scholarship Fund, and Louise Carrol.