Mr Bertucci,

thank you for visiting our Altar on Saturday, March 19, 2011. My husband & I did our first Altar in 1997 because of a promise I had made for a prayer answered. Everyone came together to help with the Altar. My grandmother on my father’s side (Livaccari/Randazzo) had held Altars before I was born & my Aunt Lena helped me with all the traditions and many of the recipes. My father and 2 of his siblings made cookies for the Altar. My husband had already learned to make all the bread for the Altar working at my father’s bakery. A close friend & her parents also helped as their family had done many Altars through the years. My sister’s husband is also from a family that worked on many Altars and they all helped.

My husband then promised 7 more years. The group of family & friends that have helped with the Altar has grown. In 1998, I started making cookies about 2 weeks before the Altar but my father had a stroke the very next day. He passed away and we did that Altar in his memory. There has been a few years since 1997 that we did not have an Altar (our house was for sale, Katrina, my mother was ill/passed away) but even with our 7 years fulfilled, I know we will continue giving an Altar. It is important to share our traditions with our children.

Through the years our prayers & petitions have varied but we are always thankful to St. Joseph.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions. I do have a photo of my grandmother’s altar (I think it is dated in the mid 1950’s).

Sincerely,

Joel Randazzo Forjet
Felix Forjet, Jr.