Ann and Dick

Ann, our youngest, finished college and graduated. All our relatives came to the ceremonies. The graduation was very impressive. We didn't have a large party for her because we had no place to have it near the college. We ate at a Chinese restaurant on our way home. We had our immediate family, three of Ann's girlfriends and one boyfriend. We had a buffet supper at our home. Ann invited many of her friends. Tony and I were thrilled our last child would now be able to take care of herself.

Ann became an English teacher in Westwood, N.J. She taught journalism and seventh and eighth grade English. Ann was also a guidance counselor for the seventh and eighth grades. She was never too busy to help one of the children if they needed it. Ann loved teaching, the children liked her very much. She bought her own car to go to and from work.

Ann taught about two years. The she met a fine fellow named Dick DeVenezia. He was an engineer, and lived in Irvington. His sister Lucy was our niece through marriage. When Lucy and Henry's oldest son, John Scala, got married he had Ann as a bridesmaid and Dick as an usher. Ann went the night before the wedding for practice.

My husband and I went the day of the wedding. We went to the groom's house just as the ushers and bridesmaids were getting together.

Dick came to us and said, “You are Ann's parents.”

We said, “Yes, we are.”

He said, “You have a pretty daughter.”

We said, “Thank you.”

We all went to the church, then to the reception. At the reception Dick was very attentive to Ann. Dick's family was sitting at our table. Dick was from a large family; he had six sisters and two brothers. They all knew Tony and me but they did not know Ann.

The oldest brother, Tony, said that Dick was falling for the bridesmaid and he hoped she was worthy of him. My husband and I kept quiet and listened to what they had to say. Then my husband said, “I think she is worthy of him. She is a college educated girl. She is an English teacher.”

Tony said, “Do you know her, Mr. Lupardi?”

My husband said, “She happens to be our daughter.”

They always thought highly of us. Then they were satisfied. All Dick's brothers and sisters were hard workers. They all had good professions.

I used to tell Ann, “Your sister Phyl is older. She should get married first.”

My husband's sister Louise had a good talk with me. She said, “If Ann's luck comes for her to get married, don't stop her. You might be taking her luck away.” Ann was a cheerful happy person with a good word for everyone. She was easy to fall for.

After keeping company two years, they decided to get married on April 4, 1959. We had an engagement party for Dick and Ann. We were going to have it outside under the large willow trees. It started to drizzle, so we patiently moved everything onto our porch. We have a very large front porch so we all enjoyed ourselves. Ann received many beautiful gifts.

Their wedding was held in Saint Mary's school hall. On Sundays an altar was set up in the hall. They had three bridesmaids and three ushers. Ann's sister Phyl was maid of honor, Dick's brother Eddie was best man. Ann's niece Terry was a flower girl and Dick's nephew Eddie, a pillow boy. My husband wore a tuxedo and I a beautiful blue dress. When one of the men walked out to congratulate us he said to my husband, “What a lucky man you are to be surrounded by so many beautiful ladies in your family.”

The reception was held at The Taaz, a very nice restaurant. It was a sit down dinner for about 150 people. Everyone danced to the music. We all had a very enjoyable time. Dick and Ann went to Bermuda for their honeymoon. When they came back they settled in at the Brookchester apartments in New Milford, N.J., about 20 minutes away from Closter.

Dick worked in New York City. Ann went back to teaching in Westwood. They were very happy. Sometimes Ann would stop to visit me on her way home from Westwood. We only had Phyl living home with us now. She went out on dates and traveled a lot.

Ann got pregnant and decided to stop teaching when she was seven months pregnant. That made it three and a half years of teaching. The teachers gave her a baby shower. They all chipped in and gave her enough money to buy a baby crib and a lot of other trinkets. The school children also gave her a party. The children gave her many baby gifts. There was a lovely write up in the Westwood High School newspaper of how they hated to see her leave teaching. She was a very good teacher.