Descendants of Joseph and Anna Maria D'Angelo recently gathered for the 30th annual D'Angelo family reunion in Jamestown. The five children (JoAnn, George, Marie, Jennifer and Elizabeth) of their son Joseph D'Angelo Jr. were the hosts for this year's event.
Since Joe (known fondly as Jess or "Zimbo" by his old friends) would have been 100 years old this year, the celebration was like a birthday party with lots of helium balloons, a pinata, kids' games and a very large birthday cake. One-hundred-and-nineteen people were in attendance for lots of fun, food and games. Specialty Sicilian foods such as cardone frocia/fritata and Nana's caponatina were prepared by Joe's daughters, along with barbecue chicken, roasted red potatoes, pasta salad, tossed salad and many other dishes brought by all attending.
There was a successful silent auction in which there were more than 40 gifts and theme baskets as prizes. The winners of the traditional bean bag toss competition were Jessie D'Angelo and Paul O'Brien, and the "Closest to the Pin Contest" winners were Jack Rensel with Wes Ramsey.
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From left: Angelo, Mary-Ann, Gaetano (Tom), Rose, Peter, Katherine and Vincent D’Angelo.
Members of the D'Angelo family came from as far away as California, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Long Island, Binghamton area, Rochester area, Lockport, Dunkirk and Fredonia. Of the 10 children born to Joseph and Anna, Connie Palermo, Joseph and Anthony have passed on, but seven survive - Vincent "Jimmy" D'Angelo (San Antonio, Texas), Catherine (Kay) Colera, Angelo D'Angelo, Rose Crise (Fredonia), Thomas D'Angelo (Johnson City, N.Y.), Mary Ann Carlo and Peter F. D'Angelo.
To end the reunion festivities a supper of Italian sausage, hot dogs, corn on the cob and salads sent the families on their way until next year.
