More Graduations

In Closter they didn't graduate students from the eighth grade; they graduated from the ninth grade. 1948 was a big year for us, Phyl graduating from high school and Ann from the ninth grade. Phyl won an award from the local dentists for the best teeth in the senior class and two other awards. Ann won an award in Music and English and the good citizenship award. We were very proud of our girls. We were so happy for them; we gave them a combined party for 90 people. We had the party in our large packing shed. The girls helped me make potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad, fried peppers and sausage in tomato sauce. We had hard rolls and bread. We also had potato chips and peanuts. There were two sheet cakes and all kinds of drinks. We did a lot of hard work to get this party ready. We also had music at the party; everyone danced. Most of our relatives were startled to see what a beautiful place we had bought. They all wished us luck.

Phyl was going to go to the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, N.J. When she was a little girl we used to ride all around the college grounds. She would say, “If I ever go to college, this is where I want to go.” So we had no trouble choosing a college for her. We were more modern in the ways of life and we had more money than when Carm finished high school. It was too late but we realized we made a mistake by not allowing her to take the scholarship she had won. Now we felt that if Phyl were smart enough to go to college we would allow her to go. Her cousin, Roseann Pisapia, also entered Saint Elizabeth's. This cousin lived within walking distance of the college.

Phyl would visit her Aunt Cora, who lived near the college, when she got lonely for home. She also had an Aunt Molly who lived in Madison. She would take a bus and visit Aunt Molly, Uncle Nick and four-year-old Irene, their daughter. Sometimes she baby-sat for them. Aunt Molly liked Phyl. She would fuss over her and tell her how to look pretty.

When Phyl came home for a weekend, she loved being with her brothers and sisters. When it came time for her to go back to college she would be blue and cry because she hated to leave us. So one day I said to her, “Phyl, you don't have to go to college if you don't want to. You either learn not to be so lonely and stay in school or come home and stay home.”

Phyl answered, “Mom, I want an education. I will learn not to be so lonely and miss you all.”

Of course I was praying she would stay in college. Phyl then made many friends. It helped keep her busy. Phyl made good marks. The nuns were good to the girls. Phyl learned to like Saint Elizabeth's.