Day 13 of 25 DAYS OF HUGGING:
On this Columbus Day Holiday, we remember Christina’s fondness for the Italian and Italian-American community, and for all the heritage that makes us all special. The picture here comes from when Christina and I were dating, and she said we HAD to go to the Italian Fest in Stone Park.
It was wall-to-wall Italians, almost all of whom somehow knew this Christina.
Another Sunday Italian Dinner
“FBI”: Full Blooded Italian, but you knew that!
Cousins, aunts, uncles, “pisans” all gathered in Stone Park for this fest every summer. There was Italian music, bocce ball games, heritage, more Italian music, and a lot of homemade wine and Italian foods. And there was Christina holding court and dishing out hugs. Her Italian heritage was important to Christina, not because it was necessarily Italian but because it was a reason for people to gather and celebrate each other together. And throw in a very, very healthy dose of hugs. Christina was proud to have been the Treasurer of the Young Italian Republicans Group when in college. When I asked what that was about, as she was largely independent, she said “that” wasn’t important but it was another way to spend time with people and enjoy the time together. That was Christina in a nutshell. Celebrate those times to be with other people commemorate something you share in common— and make sure you pass out those hugs.
Christina taking her date Matt to The Stone Park Festival. Note the nametag “Christina Pierorazio” which she often argued was a far better Italian name than her married version!
Christina and Aunt Rosemarie preparing pasta for a Carinato family reunion at the lake.
Please consider a donation to CCCF: www.celebratingchristina.org/donate
One day, one goal, one big hug.