GARY BONIKOWSKI on Fear of Eating A Meal made by DEBBIE GRAY

I pray to God that I am wrong. Green bean casserole soup is not my favorite dish.

DEBBIE GRAY on GARY BONIKOWSKI'S Prize if Correct

Yes, if CJ is our Unnamed Person I'll cook you one of my famous meals.  Luckily for you, I don't think it's CJ as she's already posted about Fairview.

GARY BONIKOWSKI guessing who might Unnamed Person be?!

My guess is that the unnamed one is CJ. Do I get a prize if I am right?

Unnamed Person in Response to GARY BONIKOWKI'S FAIRVIEW POST - Hey Unnamed, give us your name, please!!

I loved going to Uncle Joe and Aunt Rosalie's for Memorial Day, oh my goodness their home was a dream to me! That big front porch and the smaller side porch. Aunt Rosalie's peonies!!! And when Uncle Joe would take us up to his grocery store, that was too special. Even though I was pretty young when we would go to Fairview, I have fond memories of this special day in Fairview.

KAREN BRADBERRY on AUNT ELLA'S COOKING

Linda recently asked for more recipes from Aunt Ella. I can't remember many items that stood out as special - probably because all her cooking was special. She cooked and cooked. Her antipasta was fabulous and she produced the best ever pots of chili: rich, dark, thick. Despite many inquiries, no one has an answer about the ingredients she used. Dad loved her fried chicken and innards.

Aunt Ella so often hosted the family get togethers and provided all the basics - meats, potatoes, dressing. . . .I guess we just took it all for granted, knowing we were about to enjoy never less than wonderful meals and happy times.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on Spending The Night at AUNT ELDA'S and UNCLE NELSON'S

I remember when we would stay at Aunt Elda's and Uncle Nelson's house. They always had this one type of cheese crackers that I loved. We always watched "Your Hit Parade". And Aunt Elda loved to work jigsaw puzzles, and so did I.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on Music at the BRIDGE VILLA

Uncle Gene played the accordion, Uncle Bill played guitar, there was a man who played the spoons, a piano player, sometimes a fiddle player. No wonder we "senior" cousins know all the old songs, back when music was music.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on AUNT MACKIE and UNCLE BUD'S WEDDING

I remember attending Aunt Virginia's and Uncle Bud's wedding and reception, the only wedding of one of the 13 that I was at. The wedding was at a church on Madison in Averyville, the reception at Aunt Hazel's and Uncle Gene's.

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GARY BONIKOWSKI on Memorial Day in FAIRVIEW at UNCLE JOE and AUNT ROSALIE'S

I remember many a Memorial Day get together at Aunt Rosalie's and Uncle Joe's in Fairview. More often than not, it turned out to be a cold day, but we would have a great time in spite of the weather. We always had to bring the empty beer bottles back to Peoria because the neighbors would be shocked if you had beer bottles in your garbage. No one in Fairview drank alcohol - wink, wink.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on AUNT VERNA'S Risotto

I remember Aunt Verna's risotto. I only had it once, but I have not forgotten it. Delicious. Many a great meal was had in their house on Virginia.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on AUNT ANNE'S Popcorn Cakes

I remember Aunt Anne's popcorn cakes. They were in the shape of an angel food cake and had candy embedded in them. What could be better than popcorn cake!

GARY BONIKOWSKI on AUNT ANNE and her BOYFRIEND, HUCK!

I remember when Karen, Linda, and I would stay with Aunt Anne in Farmington. Aunt Anne had a boyfriend named Huck. Huck drove the bus that took Aunt Anne from Farmington to her job at Block and Kuhl's in Peoria. We always looked forward to when Huck came to "court" Aunt Anne. We three little imps did our very best to spy on them.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT HAZEL

I remember being at one of Aunt Hazel's homes, I think before she had Lynn and Gigi. She and Uncle Gene had a beagle dog named Mike. Mike had a terrible habit of digging holes in the front yard and proceeded to do so one Sunday afternoon when the family was there for one of its many gatherings. When I told Uncle Gene what Mike was doing I thought he was going murder that dog. I hope Mike learned a lesson that day. I also remember my dad talking about all the different hair colors that Aunt Hazel experimented with. I know he just couldn't get over how she changed colors so often. I, of course, thought it was so cool and thought she always looked "modern". Thank you Aunt Hazel. You were a great role model and not just because of your hair. The fact that you rose to a managerial position in Caterpillar meant a lot as we young Tiezzi girls were growing up. It showed us that we could aspire to great things.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT ELDA

I remember always liking Aunt Elda's easy going ways. It wasn't until later in life that I started seeing so many pictures of her and I at the New Bridge Villa hanging out together. No wonder I've always liked being with her. Everyone of the Original 13 have been Cub Fans. But no one, not Aunt Donna or my dad or others, can top the knowledge this remarkable fan has of her Cubbies. She is loyal to the core.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT ELLA

Aunt Ella was such a special sweet person. She was the glue that kept the family in close contact with each other after Grandma and Grandpa Tiezzi passed away. Many Sundays, we would gather at the New Bridge Villa when the restaurant was closed and we had the whole place to ourselves. It was a great gathering place and we little cousins could run around the restaurant, the tavern (just a bit) and the apartment upstairs. Often we had a piano and accordian player and we got to dance as well as eat wonderful meals together. Aunt Ella continued to host many family dinners after she left the Villa. She usually cooked enough food for an Army even if only 1/2 of an Tiezzi Army showed up. One time, on Hanssler Pl., she cooked but then forgot about a roaster full of meatballs for one of our get togethers. She kept them down in the extra oven in her basement. And when all was said and done, and when a few days later her basement filled up with flies, she finally remembered they were there. Too bad, cuz we always went home with leftovers and her meatballs were always a welcome treat. 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT DONNA

I loved being with Aunt Donna. One of my first memories of her was her Farmington high school graduation. That was a big deal to my dad and we were not going to miss it. Aunt Donna was always ready to have a good time. She loved going out to eat and trying new things to eat as long as they weren't too spicy. I remember meeting up with her in Michigan; she made several trips to Michigan to visIt me when I lived there. I also remember meeting up with her and Sister Vi on one of my trips to Siesta Key, FL, in the 70's or 80's. We ate at this great seafood restaurant and had shrimp, scallops, and a mild fish in white sauce baked in a pastry shell. It seemed very exotic coming from the Midwest. (OK so my mind remembers meals I ate more than some other things) Aunt Donna was so generous. Every time I visited her house, she gave me some little thing. I treasure those items.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on UNCLE BOSS and AUNT JEAN

Uncle Boss was the "oldest" brother and so we were always on our best behavior around him. It just seemed right that he had all boys. Even though they wouldn't play "dolls"; I still looked forward to seeing them at the family picnics. Aunt Jean had a great sense of humor. I always remember how positive she was, with a smile always on her face. 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT LOUISE and UNCLE BONI

I always loved being with Aunt Louise when we were listening to music. She loved listening and singing along. She was always an enthusiastic participator; she clapped her hands to the beat, danced and just plain "got down" but not dirty. I am also gratetful that she put up with my crying fits every time I attempted to "sleep over". I was not used to sleepovers outside of our little village Fairview and so when they first allowed me to stay over with Karen in Peoria, at first I had major bouts of panic and homesickness. However, that soon subsided and I was a frequent visitor in Peoria. Uncle Bonnie and Aunt Louise were both very generous and genuine. On one occasion, I had an international college friend who became ill and ended up at St. Francis hospital. I had to go back to school but Uncle Bonnie and Aunt Louise visited her regularly in the hospital and took her home until another college friend could return to Peoria and pick her up. This is the kind of family we had. Genuine and Generous! 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on the TIEZZI BROTHERS

I called the three Tiezzi brothers, "the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker". Joe was the butcher, Nick was the baker and Boss worked for the Central Illinois light company.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on AUNT NINA and UNCLE BILL

I remember staying overnight at Karen's house and walking over to Aunt Nina's one evening for a pizza dinner. She made the first homemade pizza I'd ever tasted. Even though my dad was a butcher, he did not make Italian Sausage but Aunt Nina put it on her pizza and I could not believe what a strong, strange flavor it had since my own family barely used anything stronger than cinnamon. I remember she was also making some homemade pies that day and was very anxious about getting the crust into the pie plate. Everytime she flipped the doubled over crust into the pie plate she would scream. I thought that was hilarious and we all laughed like crazy. I have two vivid memories of Uncle Bill. One time he took a car load of us to visit his brother's circus that was playing in St. Louis. We all road in his car that day and since he had no air-conditioning the windows were down all the way. We had a fabulous time at the circus but were really hot and tired when we returned. I also remember him being an avid fisherman and card player. He could sit at that Pinochle table for hours. I was never sure he took time to eat but surely he did. 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA on UNCLE NICK, AUNT MARY and FAMILY

The anticipation of Uncle Nick, Aunt Mary, and Cheryle and Marty coming to Peoria every couple of years was so exciting. They came into Chilicothe on the California Zephyr. Many family members would go to welcome them to Peoria and great celebrations and dinners would follow. I alway thought that Uncle Nick was so sweet and that Aunt Mary was so cool. It just seemed so exotic that we had relatives living near San Bernadino California... and they even seemed to have that California look when they arrived in the Midwest, whatever that means. I just thought they were the coolest ever. And, of course, Marcia and I loved playing with Cheryle and Marty as they were our same age. We have a great picture of the 4 of us in front of our Philips Console Radio at our old house in Fairview. Once when I was able to visit Uncle Nick and Aunt Mary in California, I was very amused at how he treated his Dog, Deigo, like royalty. He showed me the dinners he pre-made and froze for his dog; dinners that included roast beef, carrots, potatoes and gravy. Even though we didn't get to see them that often we felt very close to them. 

BILL GRAY with CLASSIC AUNT HAZEL

4th of July at the Catteaus was always a fun day. Food, family, pinochle, swimming pool and an electric piano solo or two in the garage. Something for everyone. But the memory that always makes me smile: sitting at one of the card tables in the driveway, playing pinochle with dad and the uncles, it's fairly late in the day, the sun is going down - it was a beautiful end to a wonderful get together. That's when Aunt Hazel came marching through the garage and down the driveway farting with every step she took. "Oops, I have the poopies" was her only comment as she made her way to the lawn in an effort to spread her joy to one and all. I still use that phrase today to explain an unusual aroma, now and then.

DEBBIE GRAY on GROWING UP with AUNT LOUISE and UNCLE BONI

Since the Bonikowski’s lived 2 blocks away, it was my home away from home and they were like my 2^nd set of parents.  That was great most of the time.  I’d walk or bike over there about every weekend.  I’d have unlimited cokes, Uncle Boni’s popcorn and all the sports I could watch on tv.  We’d sit in the living room and yell at the tv (me and Aunt Louise, anyway).  Uncle Boni would be the voice of reason and tell it like it was “no, he did too travel!”

Often, the 3 of us would walk down to the Bridge Villa where we would belly up to the bar and listen to the Cubs/Cardinals on the radio and yell at it (me and Aunt Louise, anyway).  There, I got all the kiddie cocktails or sodas I could drink.  Was also given lots of dimes to play the bowling machine and Aunt Louise and Uncle Boni would often play along.  Many quarters were handed over so I could play the jukebox. 3 songs for that quarter.

The other exciting thing was getting to go to the Bradley basketball games.  They had season tickets as did Joann Ehmann.  Aunt Louise and Joann sat together 6 rows behind the visitors bench.  There, they would yell like crazy the entire game.  Occasionally, somebody would look over and Aunt Louise would give them a little smile.  I took that to mean we were excused.  Uncle Boni sat across the fieldhouse in the theater seats or what I called the old folks section.  They just watched and clapped, that was about it.  When one of them couldn’t go to a game and my brother Bill had finally gone off to college, I got the extra ticket.  Those were the best times, especially when I got to sit in Aunt Louise's or Joann’s seat where I could jump up and yell all night.  Uncle Boni would always chuckle about the times I used his ticket because the people around him never failed to mention to him how his niece sure liked to yell.

Also went to church with them every Sunday.  Because I had no choice.  However, at some point we started going out to breakfast at Jumer’s after Mass, so that made it all worthwhile. Those killer cinnamon rolls to look forward to.

The one thing I’ve always appreciated about going over there all the time is it’s where I really learned to enjoy reading.  Uncle Boni had a subscription to Sports Illustrated and I got to read it from beginning to end and we would talk about the stories.  I always credit him with getting me pointed down the reading path.  He gave me my first subscription to Sports Illustrated and later on a crossword dictionary.  On the first page he wrote "use it and gain knowledge."  I still have it. 

To this day, mom and I, when we’re sitting around belching out loud, we’ll look at each other and say “excuse me, pigs, I’m a gentleman” one of his favorite sayings!
There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.

Lastly, as I said, having them nearby was mostly a great thing.  However, I do remember one time when it would have been preferable if they hadn't been.  I was not allowed to ride my bike on Madison Street.  Too busy my mom said.  So I did ride on Madison as much as possible.  One time I was riding on Madison with a friend riding on the handlebars.  I lost control, we both went flying and a car coming down the street had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting us.  That was really bad luck for me since it turned out to be Aunt Louise and Uncle Boni.  They both came flying out of the car and read me the riot act for what seemed like forever.  Then, they made me WALK, not ride, my bike all the way home as they followed behind in the car.  And, of course, once I got home, I got yelled at even more.  I’ll never forget that day.

GARY BONIKOWSKI on UNCLE NELSON, UNCLE BILL & Garage Door Opener Installation

Installing a garage door opener with the uncles.
Uncle Nelson bought a new garage door opener. Somehow, I was recruited to help install it. Don't remember why I was chosen. Uncle Nelson and Uncle Bill were my "helpers". In my usual methodical way (some would say anal, but we will ignore them) I am following the step by step instructions. Meanwhile, my "helpers" are pulling pieces out of the box and saying: "Gary, where does this piece go." I am on step 24 and that piece is for step 87. "Please, just put it back in the box." I reach the point where the rail and trolley are assembled and attached to the door, and the motor unit attached. The motor unit is resting on top of a stepladder, per instructions, in preparation to be hung from the ceiling. At that point, for reasons unknown, Uncle Nelson went outside and flung open the door, which smashed the motor unit onto the concrete floor. There was no visible sign of damage and nothing rattled, so I figured that I might as well complete the installation. Which I did, and naturally it did not work. "Hey Gary, are you sure you wired it right?" My patience with my "helpers" was wearing a bit thin by this point. I removed the motor unit. Uncle Nelson and Uncle Bill returned it to the store and told them it was defective. (If you had been smashed into a concrete floor, you would be defective too.) No one could ever look more innocent than Uncle Bill. The store gave them a new motor unit, it was installed (I believe that I was safely back in Chicago by then) and worked fine. Working with our uncles was always an adventure.

CONNIE HIGGINS on SCOTT GRABINGER'S post

Aunt Elda's patience with us kids was amazing. Thanks for posting this as it brought back some pretty good memories. Come to the family reunion this summer and I am sure Aunt Elda can give you a few tips to refresh your "memory" on pinochle! 

CONNIE HIGGINS on DEB SPENCER GRAY'S post on NINA'S 7UP SALAD

I for one am hoping that 7UP Salad is in the recipe book! I love that stuff.

SHIRLEY KELLERSTRASS on SUMMER ACTIVITY

My kids spent their mornings and evenings in the summer across the street on the school playground. The Park District had all kinds of games, ladies reading stories, basketball and tetherball, craft painting, and all kinds of things to keep the kids entertained. It was a wonderful program that kept the kids off the streets. I wish there was something like that for kids today. The rule was just as soon as the street lights come on you had better be home. 
El and Troy were a big part of my kid’s lives.

SHIRLEY KELLERSTRASS with another funny CHRISTMAS EVE story

Then there was the Christmas Eve when all the family was partying at our house and El came up and told me if I didn’t turn on some heat that everybody was going to go home. I was running around like crazy playing hostess and had not noticed there was no heat. Someone had evidently sat in the chair under the thermostat and turned it off by accident. Somewhere, floating around is a picture of everyone sitting around on their hands trying to keep them warm. Shirley Kellerstrass 

SHIRLEY KELLERSTRASS with a funny ANNE story from a CHRISTMAS EVE

One story I remember most was a certain Christmas Eve visit from Anne. The kids were all in bed, and I was waiting until they fell asleep so I could pick up the kid’s Christmas presents from El’s and Troy’s house. Besides being exhausted, I’ve always been a sleepy head and could not wait for them to get to sleep. But Anne had this long band of sleigh bells and just as the kids were about to doze off, she would shake them and yell excitedly “Did you hear that? I think I hear him, I think I hear him!!”.   I could have killed her! 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT DONNA

Aunt Donna was an amazing person. She made friends wherever she went. Once you were her friend, it was for life. She traveled to many different states as well as several different countries. She was genuinely interested in what was going on in our lives and just knowing who we were as people. She visited us when we lived out of state, she visited us when we lived local. She took us to see the Cubbies. She was the family errand girl. If someone needed something from the store she was off. Shirley cooked... Donna ran to the store! It worked perfectly. I miss her dearly! 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT SHIRLEY

Shirley (Mom) The strongest woman I know. She has always set the bar of someone to aspire to be. She had six children, raised six children, went to work, started at the bottom and worked her way up. She always provided what she could for us and I can’t really remember lacking for anything. She survived breast cancer, had chemo and never missed a full days’ work. Her door is always open when anyone comes to visit and she has taken in more than one of her siblings when they needed to recuperate. She has won many local awards (including the 25 Women in Leadership and the JC Penny Golden Rule Award) for the volunteer work she does in the community. She still volunteers at a Food Pantry every Monday morning. She has and continues to make the most of her life. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT MACK & UNCLE BUD

Aunt Virginia (Macky) and Uncle Bud loved to dance. When I think of them, I always think of them talking about dancing out at the old Hub Ballroom. We went to their farm a few times and loved running around out there. I remember the pool they had was metal and I think it was supposed to be what the cows drank out of. We loved swimming in it. I know that we loved swimming and really didn’t care what form the pool came in. Terry always had pigs. That was the closest I ever came to being around farm animals. (I can live with that) Anyway, Uncle Bud and I always talked about Unions and how they made our country strong. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT ELDA & UNCLE NELSON

Aunt Elda is always humming and listening to music. She has always seemed so happy go lucky. I know when she sends me a card for my birthday and Christmas, she has spent a lot of thoughtful time picking them out. I love that about her. She has always been close to her kids and I really think Sandy was her “kindred spirit.”  She loves the Cubbies and the Bears and is a walking encyclopedia on both. I love to talk politics with her because she and I have the same political brain! Uncle Nelson was always pretty quiet and very kind to me. They threw some pretty good parties at their house, too! Remember the time they had everyone over and Uncle Troy and Uncle Boni were sitting on the swing out in the yard and it broke? 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT NINA & UNCLE BILL

Aunt Nina and Uncle Bill’s house was always fun to go to. They offered me opportunities that I would not have necessarily had. I went to the movies far more than I would have if not for them. Debbie would call and she and Uncle Bill would come get me. He would take us to wherever we needed to go. It was usually the movies or Emo’s. Aunt Nina always had pink hair tape in her hair. Uncle Bill was always sitting at the kitchen table smoking his Tareytons. He was such a quiet man in one way but you could always sit down and have a conversation with him. Aunt Nina always had the cleanest house. She was always dusting and running the vacuum. I had the opportunity to visit Aunt Nina and Debbie in Texas last year and I can tell you she is still dusting. I saw her humming and dusting. It brought back many, many fond memories. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT HAZEL & UNCLE GENE

Aunt Hazel and Uncle Geno let us swim at their house when we were in our teens. They also hosted some really great family 4th of July parties. The card sharks were in the garage and the rest of us in the pooI. The food was plentiful and always delicious. I always loved the way Aunt Hazel changed her hair color. I have never met anyone else who did that. I remember her with brunette, blond and red hair. What fun! Uncle Geno was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. As Aunt Hazel and Uncle Geno got older we had some great Organized Labor and political discussions. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on UNCLE NICK & AUNT MARY

Uncle Nick and Aunt Mary would sweep into town and everybody loved to see them. Mom would make homemade macaroni (enough for 60) and everybody would come over. Aunt Mary and I had some great talks out back of Aunt Ella’s house smoking. She was funny and I loved the ring she always wore that had the spinning circles. I had never seen one like it and thought it was so cool. Uncle Nick was a real sweetheart that always took interest in what was happening in your family life. He was the best hugger ever! It was like he was making up for living so far away and he wanted that hug to last for a good long time! 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT LOUISE & UNCLE BONI

Aunt Louise and Uncle Boni were so much fun! Aunt Louise was always singing and dancing around. Uncle Boni was always playing with one of the kids. They always stopped by Shirley's house on Sunday mornings after church. Uncle Boni always had one of the babies on his lap and they were playing with one of the cigars in his pocket. It would be fair to say a lot of them cut their teeth on those cigars. He was always pretending like he pulled a quarter out of their ears, and then he gave it to them. They loved him.  Aunt Louise and Uncle Boni both loved to play pinochle and just plain were fun to be around. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on UNCLE JOE & AUNT ROSALIE

Uncle Joe and Aunt Rosalie had the coolest house ever. I loved to go there for family parties and sit on their porch swing. We have one today on our own front porch! Uncle Joe was always so patient and he loved little kids. He was always so interested in my own girls and what they were up to. You knew he loved you! I remember Aunt Rosalie had a love for reading and I do too! It made me feel sad that as she aged she lost most of her sight. Probably the last time I went to their house she had a lighted magnifier on her kitchen table that helped her read and that made me feel happy for her! 

CONNIE HIGGINS on UNCLE BOSS & AUNT JEAN

The memories that I have of Uncle Boss and Aunt Jean are them coming into family reunions and greeting everyone. Uncle Boss always had Brian at his side and they both greeted you with hugs. I loved Aunt Jean's wonderful smile and how big her laugh was. I don’t remember this but I wanted to add something about how committed they were to PARC. At the time they had Brian, most people with Downs Syndrome were still in institutions. That was not going to happen to Brian. Aunt Jean worked at PARC and Uncle Boss served on the board. Aunt Jean played piano for the PARC chorus (which was very well known) and they both helped to raise funds for the organization. I am proud that they were “movers and shakers” back in the day that helped establish rights for people with disabilities to have the full lives they do today. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT VERNA & UNCLE SYL

Aunt Verna let us swim at her house whenever we called and asked her. This was a great opportunity for us. I would ride my bike over to her house and spend the afternoon. When I think of her I will always think of her walking. She walked to Ardan's and Spartan's on University almost daily. She would come back with bags of full stuff for all of her kids and grandkids both here and in North Dakota. Uncle Syl was such a nice man and the smile that reached his twinkly eyes could light up the whole room. I remember one year on New Years Day we were all over at Aunt Ella’s house and Uncle Syl had to run home for something. He let us kids ride to his house in the back of his truck. I think the temperature must have been in the teens and we all froze but what fun we had! He was such a talented carpenter and I used to love going in his little workshop out behind his house to see what he was working on! 

CONNIE HIGGINS ON AUNT ELLA & UNCLE TROY

Aunt Ella was the grandma we never had. The Kellerstrass Kids needed someone and she was it. She and Uncle Troy used to come pick us all up in his Cadillac and take us to the Dairy Queen. Aunt Ella would be licking the little kids cones trying to keep up with the drips running down the side. It was a hoot to think they would even allow us in that fancy car and not worry about the spills. Aunt Ella and Uncle Troy were so good to us. When Uncle Troy was home sick with cancer, I took my girls over there to have Aunt Ella watch them for me. I have pictures of Kori sitting in front of Uncle Troy's chair playing. After we went home he told Aunt Ella if she couldn’t watch both those kids, she could tell me “no” the next time I asked them to babysit. Aunt Ella told me he loved every minute of playing with Kori that day he was just giving her a hard time! One of the things I value in my life was the time I got to spend with Aunt Ella as she suffered with Alzheimers disease. When I came in the room her face would light up and I know she always knew who I was; that made me feel so loved. One afternoon Uncle Boss was visiting her and she asked him what his name was. He said “I’m Guido your brother.". She then asked him where he lived and he said, “On Tiezzi Lane in Washington."  She looked right at him and said, “ Oh, I have a brother who lives in Washington!” I love that story. 

CONNIE HIGGINS on AUNT ANNE

Aunt Anne was a very generous person to all of her nieces and nephews. She used to take Cami and I home to Farmington with her on Friday nights when she worked downtown at Johnson’s Men’s Store. We would leave the old bus station in downtown Peoria and we would get off the bus in downtown Farmington, stop at Johnny’s Supermarket, pick up a few things and then walk home. She always took us to Kershes Café for dinner. I loved their hot roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy and I would get to finish the meal with a piece of delicious coconut cream pie. We had a lot of fun staying with her and may wonderful memories! 

DEB SPENCER GRAY (BILL'S WIFE) on NINA'S COOKING

Coming from a family of culinary-challenged cooks, I thought I was in hog heaven going to the Tiezzi family gatherings.  I remember the first time I had Nina’s 7-up Salad one 4^th of July.  It was delicious! (One of the reasons I married Bill!).  She gave the me the recipe, but mine never tasted as good as hers.  She was a wonderful cook and I felt lucky that she shared her recipe “secrets” with me.  I think one of the reasons she was such a great cook was that she constantly tasted everything while it was cooking. By the time a meal was ready to serve, she wasn’t hungry because she had been eating all day!

KAREN BRADBERRY on SPORTS FANS

The Tiezzi aunts and uncles were such sports fans. Nothing came between them and their sports until Father Time finally caught up with the merry band. During baseball season they'd trek to Wrigley Field to cheer on their hapless, but beloved Cubs. This went on for years until finally it seemed that a trip to an emergency room became part of the trips. To cover all bases, we cousins would both cross our fingers and pray as our Moms and Dads hit the road. It became time to settle for radio and tv broadcasts.

Speaking of broadcasts, I remember the day I knew Mom was home, but just couldn't reach her by phone. Becoming extremely worried, I headed for her house. As I came down her street a Cub game could be heard blaring. All was well. That noise meant Mom was enjoying the game, but had forgot to put in her hearing aid. The tv drowned out everything else. 

SCOTT GRABINGER on PINOCHLE

I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned the family game -- pinochle. There were always at least three tables going at any family gathering. When we cousins were young, we wanted to play the game but didn't know how. The elders had no interest in teaching us, except for Elda. I wonder how many of us started learning the game from her. Then we could start playing the game among ourselves but wanted to break in and play with the adults. We vied for the best tables, the one with Syl and Bill or another with Elda, Ella and Shirley. This was the dream. As we grew older, they began to tolerate us, though Gary always had an advantage, he was the best of us. I miss the game, but haven't played in years, I'd probably try to meld four nines. -- Scott 

LYNN CATTEAU HOLLAND on CHRISTMAS at AUNT HAZEL & UNCLE GENE'S

Christmas Day was always a Tiezzi afternoon party at our home. We would have lots of food, music and card playing. Someone would always play the piano as the group sang along. These were fun times with the family.

LYNN CATTEAU HOLLAND on AUNT HAZEL & UNCLE GENE 4th Of July

July 4th was always a family day for us. We set up lots of card tables and long food tables in the garage for all of the Tiezzi's to visit. We always had the pool ready to go for lots of fun in the sun. We all enjoyed the delicious food, card playing and pool activities. 

BILL GRAY with CHOP SUEY VOLCANO ERUPTION story

Chop Suey. For whatever reason Mom had a great recipe for chop suey. And like all things she cooked there was always enough to feed at least 13 people, an odd number, huh? At any rate, there was always enough left over for dinner the next day and we could always count on having it at least 2 days in a row. This was another dish that Dad wouldn't touch. Mom didn't care, she made it anyway. But the 2nd day always required a bit of a thickening agent as it would separate slightly overnight in the fridge. I knew Mom put something white in it and it wasn't flour because it came from a fairly small box. On night 2, she's working a banquet at the Villa so Deb and I are on our own for dinner. I just need to heat it up and make some rice. No problem. But, exactly what was the stuff that thickens it? There are two boxes about the same size in the kitchen cabinet - corn starch and baking soda. Corn starch was the better choice but what did I know? About 2 tablespoons of baking soda later and the kitchen turned into the "mad scientists lab." This stuff starts gurgling and boiling and erupts into a huge cloud of chop suey that is soon all over the stove and counter top before I can get the stove turned off and the mess in the pan cooled down. Of course, since I had ruined her dinner I caught hell from my sister who showed no sense of sympathy for my situation or the mess. Can't remember what we did eat, probably Kraft mac & cheese and chocolate ice cream.

DEBBIE GRAY with more on MOM & DAD & GARLIC

The other funny thing about dad & garlic was he'd rave during and after the meal about what great flavor that roast had!  The rest of us would look at each other & grin.  If he had known it was full of garlic he never would have touched it.  As long as he didn't know, couldn't get enough of it.  His brother GUY, who owned the circus, once sent us a wreath for our door made out of garlic just to get Dad!  Mom loved that and proudly hung it on our side door that we always used coming into the house.  Dad had a great sense of humor and laughed about it, too!
PS  That struggling with boiling water remark is slightly exaggerated.  Slightly.

BILL GRAY on GARLIC, MOM's (NINA) POT ROAST & DAD'S (BILL) REACTION

Garlic. As we all know, a necessary ingredient in anything that is to be eaten. And I do mean anything. That was Mom's take on it, anyway. Garlic was probably the one constant in all of our meals. The problem was Dad wouldn't eat anything with garlic in it. Gave him indigestion, didn't like the taste. If he knew or had any idea of how much garlic he ate in his life he would have been surprised, to say the least. Here's Mom preparing a pot roast for Sunday dinner, recipe to follow: standing 10-12 feet from Dad she preps the roast by poking holes in it large enough to fit in a clove of garlic. This continued until all of the garlic from a head was used up. There's more to the recipe, but you get the idea. Later, as the roast is done and she's getting the gravy going we always had to have dinner rolls. Of course, they were dosed liberally with garlic powder prior to baking. We'd put a toothpick in the one that had no garlic - that was for Dad. Only, sometimes we forgot to add it, sometimes it fell out. Hell, most times that's what happened. So a toothpick got stuck in any one roll at random and Dad was ok because it had a toothpick in it and that meant "no garlic". He had a good appetite and never said a word. Fortunately, Deb (my wife that is, as we all know my sister struggles boiling water) learned how to make that roast and gravy and we continue to enjoy it to this day. Bill G.

GARY BONIKOWSKI comments on DEBBIE GRAY post regarding AUNT LOUISE & SPORTS

And that is why Mom sat on one side of the Fieldhouse and Dad on the other for Bradley games. When any sporting event was on TV, we usually ended up sending Mom to the kitchen so that the rest of us could watch it in peace

DEBBIE GRAY'S MEMORY of AUNTS & MOM at HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME

I have a story involving mom, Aunt Louise, Aunt Verna and Aunt Elda.  Don’t remember Aunt Elda being there but she must have been as Sandy was on the team and she came to all the games.  Anyway, they used to come to our high school basketball games which started my senior year due to Title 9.  

This particular game was held in Spalding’s gym which was pretty big.  The only people who attended these games were family and friends so it was easy to hear anybody if they were yelling.

Aunt Louise would yell at our games just like she did at the Bradley games she went to.  At the Bradley games she & Joann Ehmann sat 6 rows behind the visitors bench and they rode the refs and visiting team unmercifully the entire game.  However, at our games, the aunts voices were easily heard by all.

So, they were doing their usual yelling and the refs on this day didn’t appreciate it.  One of them went by the aunts (they always sat right up front by the court) and told them to pipe down.  Of course Aunt Louise yelled “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen!”  At this point somebody sitting across the aisle from them also yelled something at them.  I don’t remember what she yelled but Aunt Verna got up and yelled back at this lady something or other and then finished it off with “and you’re no spring chicken yourself!”

Well, I can remember wanting to disappear through the floor while the refs stopped the game, went over to our coach and told her if those ladies didn’t quiet down we would be forfeiting the game!  So, our coach had to walk across the court over to mom and the aunts to ask them to tone it down.  I guess they did as we did manage to finish the game without further interruption.  Don’t remember who won, though!

KAREN BONIKOWSKI answers some of LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA questions

I have pix of aunts playing ball tho I gave most to the appropriate cousins.

I used to get to grill onions as well as pickles after church on Sunday.  I guess the lord blessed me for my holiness and/or Uncle Peanuts liked me best.

Embedded forever in my memory is the day I water-ballooned Aunt Anne.  Was aiming for Donnie Bell.  His mom worked at the Villa and his dad, Harry, always played the fiddle when the Uncles made music. 

GARY BONIKOWSKI continuing on WATER BALLOONS

You are darn tootin that I was totally innocent. I have no memory of that activity. Talk about a couple of girls trying to blame a guy for their bad deeds! Sheesh!! What I do remember is that whenever it was time to do the dishes at your house, you always seemed to have to go to the bathroom. Poor Marcia got stuck with the dishes. Typical older sister trick.

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA has QUESTIONS regarding SOFTBALL/BASEBALL PLAYING by ORIGINAL 13

How many of the ORIGINAL 13, our aunts and uncles/parents/grandparents were involved in baseball or softball as young adults? What positions did they play, for what team, and where? I know many did and of course we know that most all of them were die-hard CUB fans. Aunt Elda is still a walking encyclopedia of Cubbie information. 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA has a couple of QUESTIONS for SHERRY LAIBLE

Sherry, did your mother have one of the Cushmann motor scooters? I can't remember who owned them. Also,what kind of job did your mom have before she got married and what position did she play in baseball/softball, for which team, where and for how long?

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA back at GARY BONIKOWSKI with more WATER BALLOONS

Are you saying that I came up with the water balloon idea, actually launched them, and you were totally innocent???

SHERRY LIABLE WHITE on AUNT MACKIE & UNCLE BUD

Virginia Marie Tiezzi and Elwood "Bud" Laible met at the Bridge Villa.  Bud's mother, Rosalie, loved how they could all sit around one big table to have a meal.  Virginia and Bud were married a few blocks from there at the Madison Avenue Methodist Church in Peoria.  Nina and Bill Gray stood up for them at their ceremony. Eugene and Hazel Catteau held a reception at their home.  Virginia and Bud lived near Elda and Nelson Graves until the Laible's moved to Washburn on a farm that Bud's family had lived on.  Bud named the land Tiezzi Landa Park and there were a few family gatherings with homemade food. 

GARY BONIKOWSKI begs to differ with LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA regarding WATER BALLOONS

You were throwing water balloons out the front windows onto people and it was Gary who got you in trouble?!?! I think NOT. I think that you should look in the mirror to see who got you in trouble. 

LINDA TIEZZI WALDERA responds to NANCY KELLERSTRASS post about AUNT ELLA & UNCLE TROY

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Uncle Troy and Aunt Ella were crazy over you and Angie. I know they loved being with you. Uncle Troy "Mr. Pepsi" was a generous man, that's why he fit perfectly into the Tiezzi Family. 

The memories I have of Aunt Ella go back futher .. when she was helping to run the New Bridge Villa. She opened up that dining room to the whole family on numerous occasions and we just had a ball being there. I remember that Karen and I used to stand at the grill in the kitchen frying dill pickle slices. Those were the only thing that Aunt Ella would let us touch out of the cooler. The catfish ready to fry, the big buckets of potato salad and cole slaw were "off limits". We thought those fried dill pickle slices were delicious and used to take orders, pretending we ran the place. Of course that only held our attention so long and either we got distracted or were kicked out after awhile and then we would head upstairs to Aunt Ella and Uncle Peanut's flat and would manage to get into more mischief than appreciated. Let's just say the one time we threw water balloons out the front windows on people passing by didn't go over very well with the more mature elders. I think it was Gary who got us into that trouble. Anyway, the New Bridge Villa was a GREAT place for the Tiezzi clan to hang out on a Sunday during the winter months. 

NANCY KELLERSTRASS on AUNT ELLA & UNCLE TROY

Aunt Ella and Uncle Troy had a lot to do with my upbringing.
When I was little Angie and I spent nearly every weekend with them.  So, it might be 
difficult to tell a story about  Uncle Troy without talking about Aunt Ella too but I will try.

Uncle Troy and Aunt Ella used to come pick up Angie and I to go to the Dairy Queen for a ten center ice cream cone nearly every week night during the summer.  We would eat our ice cream cones, then we would all go see Willard at the Pepsi plant.  It was so much fun to go see Willard.  He washed the Pepsi trucks in the evenings.  We got to run and play on all the Pepsi trucks while Uncle Troy talked to Willard.  

Uncle Troy used to always tell me...Don't get married until you are 25 and I will buy you a Dairy Queen to run when you are older.  I laugh now when I think of this.  But I did what he told me.  I didn't  have a serious boyfriend until I was 25 because of what he said.  He was a really special influence in my life and will always be missed.

I loved spending time with Aunt Ella and Uncle Troy growing up.  We used to always go watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade at their house because they had a color TV and we did not.  Uncle Troy would always let me pick a team when watching football.  We would bet a quarter on the game.  It was always fun....lots of love and good memories.

HELP! What we are looking for!

With the cookbook coming for the Tiezzi Reunion this summer, the authors/editors would like for all the cousins to share some favorite stories, memories, thoughts, whatever you'd like, about the Tiezzi 13/Spouses.  We have a deadline and it will be here before we know it.  MARCH 1ST is the DEADLINE.  So, take a look at our first entry which comes from Nancy Kellerstrass about Aunt Ella and Uncle Troy.  Think of your own stories and post them as comments under any post you see on this blog.  It won't show up as a comment but will alert me that someone wants to comment.  What I will do is grab your story and post it in a regular post,  just like Nancy's.  To do this look at the bottom of any post and click on No comments, enter your story in the box, then Comment as:  Anonymous, click Publish and follow the last instruction.  That's it!  I'll be notified there is an anonymous comment waiting to be published and I will go in, grab & post it.  Let's Go!
PS  BE SURE TO STATE YOUR NAME IN THE COMMENT SINCE ALL I WILL SEE IS AN "ANONYMOUS" poster.  We need to know who is submitting the story : )