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.