Aunt Gorgeous's Ninetieth Birthday

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Betty Di Camillo King

My father's family always loved a party, and with eleven children they never had to wonder whom to invite!

Di Camillo Family, Circa 1934

My grandmother, who was a skillful cook, loved cooking big, elaborate meals-- and with seven daughters, she had quite a staff to assist. Some of my most vivid memories growing up were the family parties held at my grandmother's apartment over our old store on Fourteenth Street in Niagara Falls.

Original 14th Street Store Niagara Falls, NY, Circa 1925

These repasts were fascinating events for my brothers, cousins, and me. The preparations were days in the making. My mother, aunts, and grandmother, were totally immersed in the cooking. My aunt Angelica and aunt Theresa were always in charge of the beautiful table preparations -linens. silver and a fruit arrangement being de rigueur! There were always at least two meat dishes, countless vegetables, the obligatory pasta, pounds of potatoes, and, of course, an extraordinary bread assortment.

Grandma Di Camillo with The Pig, Circa 1960

Thanksgiving Di Camillo 3rd Generation Children, Circa 1954

The Roasted Pig was central to our Thanksgiving celebration. This meat course evolved into our family's ultimate celebratory food expression. As children we were fascinated by my grandmother's preparation of the pig: washing it and making it dance for us before it went into the pan.

And then the final presentation: the piglet had cherries in its eyes, and a red ripe apple in its mouth. These parties we never forgot, never could forget. With three piano-players, a mezzo-soprano, and a tenor in the family, there was always a floor-show of singing and music that preceded and followed these celebrations. My brothers, cousins and I were amazed as our aunts and uncles became a virtual vaudeville act. Our family has always taken advantage of the fact that we had a bakery. It was, as I've mentioned in an earlier blog, practically part of my grandparents' business-plan to keep eleven children employed and fed. From the earliest times, the bakery ovens have helped to cook many a piglet (and more!) for our family celebrations.

Aunt Gorgeous looking gorgeous at 90

Recently our Aunt Angelica, one of the original eleven of my father's sisters and brothers, celebrated her ninetieth birthday. "Aunt Gorgeous", (as she instructed us as children to call her--and this was long before Barbara Streisand!) has worked in the bakery since she was sixteen and is, to this very day, still at her desk or in the Linwood Avenue store. Every family should have their own "Auntie Mame." We hand "Aunt Angelica" our stylish, over the top aunt, who never missed our birthday parties! With only three of the original Di Camillo eleven left.

Angelica DI Camillo, Joe Di Camillo, Philip Alterio, Theresa Di Camillo, Katie Di Camillo Alterio, Barbara Di Camillo, Jerri Di Camillo

My cousin Betty, spear-headed a family party to celebrate this milestone--and to give the new generations of Di Camillos a taste of a family tradition that we have always cherished-- A Di Camillo Party!

Di Camillo Family

From the very beginning of my cousin Betty's plans for Aunt Gorgeous' Birthday party, she insisted on a piglet-- as she said, "that's a Di Camillo thing!" I must admit I dragged my feet on that point, as my house was the where we were having the party! All I could imagine was the difficulty of cooking a whole pig-a procedure that takes about seven hours! However, as the pictures attest, the pig helped make it an unforgettable event. All the family joined in contributing at least a course or two. Thankfully, my brother, Tom, our master-baker, who is never as happy as when he has an oven in front of him, cooked the pig in my backyard.

The pig wound up serving sixty adults and fourteen children under the age of ten! The party poster was a huge success. I have a wonderful studio photo of Aunt Angelica. She was seventeen when the photo was taken. I have never been able to find a use for it in my chronicling of this family. This party offered the perfect venue. I had it enlarged to poster size and hung it over the table.

But this was only the beginning of its use. I soon realized her head could be superimposed on a nearly life size, vintage nude portrait I have over my fireplace.