SHE DOESN'T ACT HER AGE

If there's one thing Irma Pardi doesn't act, it's her age! That is to say, many of her actions don't fit the stereotype of an 80-year-old woman.

Whether rolling up her sleeves at an inner-city food pantry, landscaping the church grounds, bringing Communion to shut-ins, decorating the altar or singing in the choir, Mrs. Pardi exudes the stamina of someone half her age.

A parishioner of St. Anthony's Church in Schenectady since her birth during World War I, Mrs. Pardi said she draws her vim, vigor and vitality not from a vitamin-fortified well, but from the Church.

'Second family'

"St. Anthony's is my second family and my second home. Belonging to this parish and being given the opportunity to do for others through the Church gives me a sense of purpose," explained Mrs. Pardi, who was widowed after 51 years of marriage.

A major commitment entails coordinating a group of volunteers who pitch in at the Schenectady Inner City Mission (SICM) on the second Wednesday of each month. The 10 or so volunteers from St. Anthony's sack bags of groceries, re-package bulk items and stock shelves with donated food.

The edibles are subsequently distributed to the needy through SICM, an ecumenical partnership of 53 congregations in the greater Schenectady area.

Pitching in

Mrs. Pardi is not the only "senior" volunteer at SICM, and she insists those who accompany her to the mission each month as well as to the City Mission four times a year deserve at least as much credit as she does.

"They are all wonderful and they all work very hard," she notes, "so please don't single me out for a pat on the back. We're in this ministry together."

Another lay outreach program in which Mrs. Pardi has lots of company from both retired women (as well as those still in the workforce) is the parish's Sacred Heart League, which has roughly 100 members.

"We try to reach out to those in need wherever they may be," said Mrs. Pardi. "Just recently, we packed loads of beautiful baby clothing and delivered the items to Birthright here in Schenectady. Most of us didn't have time to knit booties, but we each donated something -- little pajamas, tiny dresses and suits, you name it."

Compassion

Joking that her indomitable optimism has earned her the nickname "Mary Poppins," Mrs. Pardi has always felt compelled to help others -- even though her compassionate ways once earned her a stern reprimand from her late father.

"I was once home alone when a tramp came to our door. Remembering what the Bible said about feeding the hungry, I invited the man in for breakfast and made him the works: bacon and eggs, coffee, whatever I could find. And was he ever hungry!" laughed Mrs. Pardi, who maiden name was Lattanzio. "Naturally, my father was very upset. For all he knew, the man could have been an ax murderer, but the thought that the stranger might harm me never even entered into my mind."

In those days, she added, a needy person couldn't go to social services for help. Those who were down and out literally had to rely on the kindness of strangers.

Benefiting others

Among those who benefit from Mrs. Pardi's kindness today are residents of the Kingsway, Glendale and Hallmark Nursing Homes where she spreads sunshine during her regular visits as a Eucharistic minister.

Hers is also a familiar voice in the St. Anthony's Church Choir which she joined in 1935 when she was just a teenager. Mrs. Pardi's presence is also visible on the altar -- not just as a Eucharistic minister, but also as the person responsible for decorating it!

The manager of a women's clothing store until her 1979 retirement, Mrs. Pardi uses her background as a window dresser to create inspirational themes on the altar.

"It's funny," mused Mrs. Pardi. "I never really thought of myself as a creative person when I was young, but deep down there somewhere, I guess I must be imaginative. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and I must have inherited some talent from her because people tell me I have a pretty good eye for designing and putting colors together."

Helping parish

Yet another service performed by Mrs. Pardi on a fairly regular basis is serving as an acolyte at funerals.

"There's a whole team of us who take turns carrying a cross and two candles to guide the priest down to the altar at St. Anthony's," said Mrs. Pardi. "This is something the kids used to do, but now it's mostly the older ones."

In the warmer weather, Mrs. Pardi can often be seen clad in gardener's attire enhancing the landscaping of the church grounds. Asked how she acquired that skill, she said it was a talent that developed slowly over time: "I've done a lot of experimenting with plants and flowers in my own backyard over the years."

Is there anything Mrs. Pardi does NOT do at age 80 that she did in her younger years? Yes, she confesses. About a decade ago, she stopped working at the church Bingos.

Apparently, even Mary Poppins needs an evening off once in a while!

(03-13-97) [[In-content Ad]]