Elegy to Cariati

Spring is the season of renewal... ( christians celebrate the resurrection of jesus christ, jews celebrate the passover : the exodus of 400 years of slavery under egyptian rule.

Today , we celebrate Mamma, Nonna , Bis-Nonna Elvira: today we celebrate her life... ( it is difficult to compose a eulogy that will represent her almost one hundred years)
this is the conundrum ...

nevertheless, let us begin today's journey with this:

i am reminded of a poem by john keats ( a 19th century english romantic poet) and his poem: "ode to a nigthngale..." ( i will read one of the stanzas)

Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain,
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such an ecstasy!
Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain -
To thy high requiem become a sod.



Mamma Elvira celebrated her 97 birthday, on march 1...

yes, for nonna now more than ever it is rich to die... ( on many occasions visiting she stated her desire to die to God; to call her because of all the pain and suffering during her last decade or so. Today she is free of that pain and suffering ... and in a better abode!!!

Today Bis-Nonna Elvira has no pain: no arthitis, no asthma... no migraines...


As keats states the nighingale male has a rich melodious song which he sings at night during the Spring sesaon....

the beautiful melody was offerded to Nonna's grandchildren: she reared and nuturured many... agostino, antonella carlo, cathy, lorenzo, mario michele, marita, nino, patricia, peppino, tina and rosie, who have done the same...

the nighngale's song is Mamma Elvira's song which will continue just as her memory will continue with all her other great grandchildren...

Nonna shared a special line...salute with many grandchildren and children that became a motif "cent anni , nonna!!! cent'anni ( we will celebrate your 100 years in 2013)



Mamma Elvira loved food and introduced many Italian culinary delights to her children: Guarino, Michele , Michellina, Minuzza, and Rosetta, and , ... many have been maintained..practiced... still today

here are a few:


her famous rolled porc~culets stuffed with sausages ( fragiole al a calbrese) in a red sauce

the exquisite marinated eggplnat ( melangiani)

the special chinaquigli ( desserts with raisins, wlanuts and grape jam)

her italian version of doughnuts but very salty...

the special ragu sauce with pork... suasages...and goat... meat

the stuffed eggplants

the stuffed red pepper

the famous home made pastas: lasagna and the memorable potato gnocchi... one serving was never enough!!!!


and... no one will ever forget the 200 + tomato jar preserves... AN ANNUAL EVENT ... which would commence during late august or early september... which seemed to last an eternity.... the transport of dozens ...dozens of bushels of roma tomatoes... ( many grandchildren and children would run... escape this... BUT all would covet these special roma tomato preserves... when achieved) one way or another... somewhere... somehow... this long process would be complete... no one could say NO to mamma nonna elvira's roma tomato preserves...


every time that any of you~ family~ prepare one of these she is alive and smiling...

moreover, family... the importance of family... to mamma nonna bis-nonna elvira holds a special meaning although problems persisted ... in conjunction with many issues, conflicts here and in italy... she needed to maintain to stress... the importance of family...

next, she loved and shared her love of nature~ especially gardening: basil, hot peppers, green bean plants~ and her love of italian music: andrea bocelli... among many others...

Spring is the season of rebirth as well ... Mamma, Nonna, Bisnonna Elvira will traverse the portal to the other kindgom.... the cycle of life : is a cycle of regeneration; she will be in a new form... in a new realm... peaceful... It is ironic that Mamma Elvira passed away during Spring, a season that permitted her to begin to sow... scatter seeds...

Mamma Elvira was happy glancing into her backyard... admiring the fruit of her labour... of her garden...






to conclude ....



our heart aches for Mamma, Nonna, Bis-Nonna Elvira , and we feel a drowsy numbness that pains us because of her loss
My sense is that she would like us to celebrate and remember her free of pain... free of suffering...
let us imagine Elvira happy , happy in her new abode
peaceful among the other Kingdom's GARDEN.
peaceful as the nightingale's song...

let us sing of her life while we are on this terrestial plane
let us sing of ... elvira alberina cariati alfano.. mamma, nonna and bis-nonna to many here...
and let us begin a requiem to her with her secret to longevity :preparing wholesome food, sharing one's heart with someone special and a caring family ... and let us close with the special motif: CENNT'ANNI, CENT'ANNI ...