Every parish in the archdiocese takes pride in those parishioners who have been part of their community for decades --- in some cases, as many years as the parish itself. St. Peter's Italian Church is no exception. Following are brief profiles of a few of St. Peter's veterans --- those who return for special events, and those who have never left.
Beatrice Ferrante Smaldino
Beatrice Smaldino walked across the hall of the Casa Italiana on St. Joseph Day weekend, having just worked at the pizza table and ready for a short break. Coming across the hall Scalabrinian Father Raniero Alessandrini, St. Peter's pastor, sang out in a tenor voice, "Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa," as she approached. She smiled, hugged him and continued on her way. "He sings to me all the time," she said.
With humor, grace, faith and love for her parish, 94-year-old Beatrice Smaldino continues to participate in parish celebrations as much as possible. Born at home on nearby Alpine Avenue, she still lives in the parish in which she was born and married. One of eight children born to Italian immigrant parents, she is one of three who survive.
Since 1940 she has lived in the house that she shared with her late husband John Smaldino --- "the best looking man," she says with a smile.
"I've got so many friends," says Beatrice. Many have moved away, but they come back for weddings, funerals and other celebrations. "To me it's the Italian church and it's not far for me to get here." Taught at an early age to greet everyone she meets, she says, "I make friendly with everybody."
Emily DiMattia Steele
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Emily DiMattia Steele was married in 1946, came to Highland Park in 1957 and has been a parishioner at St. Peter Italian Church for the last 50 years. She lives today just two miles from St. Peter's, in whose rectory she served as cook for almost 30 years. "This is the only church I know here since I came to California," says Emily.
She met her future husband at her uncle's restaurant in Trenton. He had been a paratrooper who was shot down over Italy and was hidden in cellars by those who took him in for 16 months. He came into the restaurant one day and she met him. Her uncle sold "tomato pie," not pizza. "They would make their bread and anything they had leftover in the house, they put on the extra dough, bake it, and it was a treat for kids. When it came to feeding a lot of people, they could do it because they grew a lot of vegetables."
Emily especially remembers the St. Joseph Table at the St. Peter Church when they first came to California. "The line went down around Broadway," she says. What keeps her returning to her parish church is simple: "Our parish is family oriented and they've been here for years. You can always come in and know someone," she says. "The kids are growing up and their children are getting married here. When you see their kids grown up, it is wonderful."
Nino Polito, Tom Carlisi and Rocco Datomi
During the height of World War II, graduation from high school was deferred for many young men so they could enlist in the Armed Services. Nino Polito, Tom Carlisi and Rocco Datomi --- all sons of Italian descent born in 1926 --- would have graduated with the Hollywood High School class of 1944. But they, as did several of their classmates, chose to fight for the country that their parents and grandparents had adopted.
Not surprisingly, the war strengthened the deep bond they had developed in school, one reason they still come back to St. Peter Italian Church each year for the St. Joseph Day celebration. Usually seven of them come back, but because of bad health, only Nino, Tom and Rocco, made it this year.
When asked why he and his friends come back each year, he said,
"St. Peter is an Italian Church and we have a bunch of Italians here," smiled Nino, pointing to his two friends. Nino's dad, Giuseppe, was born in Sicily, and their family lived in St. Peter Parish. "We've been coming here for years --- for sentimental reasons. And the pasta." |