Siblings remember 202 years

When Mary Costanza's children visit her at Valley Health Services in Herkimer, they might be mistaken for residents. Her "kids" are in their eighties and seventies. She's 102.

At the Masonic Home in nearby Utica, Vito Paratore has a similar situation. He is 100.

And what ties the family knot even tighter is that Mary and Vito are brother and sister, whose two "younger" siblings are in their eighties.

Big family

Just after the turn of the last century (in 1902), Mary Elizabeth Paratore was born in New York City. Her parents, who had just arrived from Italy, were en-route to join their extended family in Frankfort.

By the time she was "ten or eleven years old, I can't remember exactly," Mary was caring for eight brothers and sisters while her parents worked long hours on their vegetable farm and in their grocery store.

Mrs. Costanza would carefully watch her mother cook. When she was called upon to take care of her siblings, she knew how to whip up meatballs, pasta and sauce, and Italian wedding soup, her favorite meal.

"I cooked a different meal every day," she remarked with pride.

In the fields

Vito remembers helping his parents harvest their vegetable crop to sell in the family store. Even though they had a lot of time to play, the children were expected to pitch in with the overwhelming work that a farm and store required.

"We all had chores to do. It was something we were expected to do, and we did it without question," he said.

His first paying job was when he was "about 15 or 16." Along with other young men, he harvested hops early each autumn in Waterville, a town several miles from Frankfort.

"We rode on a hay wagon for miles to spend a few weeks harvesting the hops before we started school each year," he said. "They delayed school for us. We picked the hops by hand. They were very bitter I remember. We slept in the barns. It was hard work."

Family memories

After both siblings got married, they kept their families close, visiting each other frequently, especially on holidays when they all shared home-cooked meals.

Mrs. Costanza can read and write Italian, and her daughter Nancy Diliberto commented that her mother has spent years documenting family events.

"Over the years, Mom kept a diary of family events and important dates," she said. "She has the life of our entire family well documented."

Mr. Paratore, who worked for the Frankfort Union Fork and Hoe as a handle finisher for 36 years, described his job as placing "unfinished shovel and machinery handles into a finishing machine" that buffed them to a smooth veneer. "I processed 600 handles a day," he noted.

Decades of faith

Both Mr. Paratore and Mrs. Costanza are life-long parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Frankfort. He served as an usher for 53 years and was a member of the Holy Name Society. They believe that a strong faith is important to living a long life.

Mr. Paratore said his daily prayer helps him get through the hard days and long nights in his new residence, where he has been for just four months.

In recent years, Mrs. Costanza had two hip replacements and cataract surgery, and believes that the power of prayer helped her through those ordeals. "The 'Our Father' is my favorite prayer," said Mrs. Costanza, who added that she also prays the Rosary nearly every day.

"We have always prayed together as a family," noted Mrs. Costanza's daughter Rose Zito. "Mom taught us all how to pray. Her deep faith has been an example to the entire family."

Pastimes

Mr. Paratore, who has played the mandolin for most of his life, recently performed for residents at the Masonic Home when they celebrated his 100th birthday in July. Bowling is his favorite sport to play.

A devoted Yankee fan, he follows all the games on TV. His room is decorated with Yankee memorabilia, including an autographed picture of shortstop Derek Jeter.

"Jeter's grandmother is a parishioner in the same parish my sister Rita belongs to in New Jersey," Mrs. Kennell said. "When Rita told her that Dad was a fan, Derek's grandmother got the autograph for him. That photo is one of Dad's most prized possessions."

Treats and advice

Mary loves to make pasta, meatballs and cuccidotti, an Italian cookie. When asked the secret to making meatballs, she replied, "A little olive oil, of course."

Vito has advice for anyone who wishes to live a long, productive life: "Eat a good breakfast of bacon and eggs every day. Keep a sense of humor. And stay well. You have a lot of living left to do!"

(Vito has three children: Salvatore of Whitesboro, Mayme Kennell of Frankfort and Sister Mary Rita, OFM, Cap. of Hewitt, N.J. He has six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Mary also has three children: Rose Zito, Nancy Diliberto and Vito. A fourth child, Sam, died at age 28. She has eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.)

(12/9/04)