Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, December 20, 2002 My Favorite Christmas Memories Canfield St. Michael parishioner’s memories win essay contest EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks to all who entered the Exponent “My Favorite Christmas Memory” essay contest. We enjoyed reading your entries and have published the prize-winning essays here. Selected other entries can be found on pages 14 and 23. The third-place winner, who will receive a check for $35, is Hank Niezgoda of Tucson, Ariz. The Niezgodas raised nine children at Massillon St. Mary Parish. “Forever will I remember the Christmas of the Great Depression of 1929 – being the youngest of a family of 10, living in a four-room, two-bedroom home. “My father, a coal miner, and my mother were both born in Poland. When my parents asked what I wanted for Christmas, I insisted that I wanted a pair of corduroy pants like the store boss’s son, Paul, owned. I selfishly keep insisting that was the only gift I wanted. “On Christmas Eve, under the tree was only one package wrapped in old newspapers. It was for me: the corduroy pants. Years later I found out the rest of the family siblings all agreed not to get a gift so that I got my gift. “Selfish beyond words. My lesson learned! At any future time when it came to sharing and caring, give not till it hurts, albeit till it feels good.” “When I was a child, I’d spend every Christmas with my parents, brother, two sisters and their families. My dad would begin the holiday festivities by reading the Christmas story from the family Bible. Everyone would join in singing Silent Night as the youngest child placed the baby Jesus figurine in the creche. Oplatki was shared, as everyone in the family consumed a small piece of each other’s wafer. “After a sumptuous buffet, my mother would tell the children, “Let’s fool Santa! Go in the bedroom and pretend to be sleeping. When he’s gone, you can open your gifts.” For us kids, this joke added to our glee. We’d rush to bed and soon we’d hear jingle bells jingling as “Santa” greeted the adults and consumed his milk and cookies. “Years later, I learned my dad was the voice of the jolly St. Nick. And the jingling bells? Two teaspoons in a ceramic mug!” Charles Jaskiewicz Warren “How can I possibly pick one memory out of so many my parents and family have given me? From the awe we felt on Christmas morning to the awe I have seen on my own children’s face. My father’s gift to us is to take his children on the porch one by one to tell us how proud and thankful he is to have us; it is a priceless gift to me. My parents have given me the greatest gift of all, the gift of humor and the gift of compassion towards others. My parents are up there in age and I will pass on to my children the gift of love my parents have given me every Christmas Eve.” Frances Valentino Campbell SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish  “How thrilled I was each Christmas when Santa brought me a doll. One year stands out as being different, though – the year I was too sick to do anything but lie on the couch. It was also the year I did not get a doll. Instead, I received many outfits for last year’s doll. “The large board these clothes were fastened to was propped up where I could see them while imagining the fun I’d have later. This gift really helped me cope with feeling rotten during this festive season. “The true importance of this gift didn’t surface until many years later when I found out my Aunt Rose had lovingly made all the pretty clothes. This memory has special meaning for me this winter as Aunt Rose died last January.” Helen Herzog Canton St. Joan of Arc  “Every year, on the feast of Saint Nicholas, Dec. 6, I have given our children a Christmas ornament: Angels, bears, cats, Santas, etc. “The tradition started when the children attended Catholic school. Teachers would leave treats on students’ desks that day. “One year, all I had available was flocked plastic fruit: oranges, apples and pears decorated with holly. The kids were not too thrilled, but spared my feelings. When they left home, the children had quite an assortment of ornaments to take with them no one took it when they left! She knew just what she had to do. Wrapping each piece in Christmas paper, she distributed them to the siblings on Christmas Eve. Every one had a good laugh and the fruit finally had homes. “The ornament tradition continues today, but, no more plastic fruit!” Marian Miley Ravenna  “My favorite Christmas memory is rather simple. My parents divorced when my brother and I were very young. But our dad remained a part of our lives. “On Christmas Eve, he would come to our house bearing a delicacy…Lawsons Chip Dip and Chips! Living on a fixed income, it was a very special treat. “The purpose of this treat was to keep us kids out of my mother’s hair while she was upstairs frantically wrapping Christmas presents. We had a great time speculating about what Santa Claus would bring us and chomping down chips!” Mary Jane Huth Kent  “One December evening in 1959, when I was 10 years old, Dad invited me to accompany him to the then-thriving downtown Youngstown to shop for a Christmas gift for Mother. I was thrilled! Dad worked two jobs to make ends meet and had little time to spend with me on weeknights. “We took the bus downtown — a deviation for us; we went places in our one family car. Our purchases included stainless flatware (very new at that time) from the Stambaugh-Thompson store and a spectacular Mouton coat from Strouss-Hirshberg Co. I felt grown-up being included in the decision-making and delighted to know that Mother would receive these gifts. “It was a magical evening filled with lovely store decorations and time spent with my much-adored father. Over the years, I often reminisced with Dad over our adventure and have created similar memories with my children.” Dr. Michelle White Millersville, Pa.  “One of my favorite of many Christmas memories was the Christmas Eve over my mom and dad’s. Santa always came for the kids and this one Christmas Eve my brother played Santa. Well, when one of the kids got his present from Santa, he said, “that wasn’t Santa; that was Uncle Bob.” The way he knew, my brother had two fingers cut off and that little guy remembered. It goes to show how observant kids are, and so precious.” Patty Gordulic Youngstown “I am 72 years old, the youngest of eight children. Mom and Dad were Slovenian; they emigrated from Yugoslavia. “Each year on Christmas Eve, our family gathered in the living room with our rosaries, and knelt around the lit Christmas tree. “Dad, with Mom by his side, would lead us with praying the rosary, three times; the three mysteries. Between each mystery, Dad would say an extra decade for the poor souls in Purgatory. Dad would start each “Hail Mary” and “Our Father” in Slovenian and we would say the ending of the prayers in English. We understood Slovenian but spoke very little of it. “We all knelt by a chair or sofa in case we needed some support. “We continued this tradition through World War II and after, when the family began to marry and leave home.” Mrs. Richard E. Pinkerton Alliance St. Joseph Church  “It was Christmas Eve 1956. I was in Friedberg, Germany, with the 3rd armored division. I was in the Cold War having been drafted into the Army. At Midnight Mass, a loneliness crept through me. This was my first Christmas overseas and away from my family in Pennsylvania. “Father Thaddeus Malanowski’s sermon brightened my outlook. But it wasn’t until I received Jesus in the Eucharist that I felt complete joy. “This was the same Jesus that I had received so many times before in the States. This would be a happy Christmas after all. Next year would even be better: I would be home again with my wonderful family.” Pete Pikus Perry Township  “Does anyone remember the song “The Best Christmas Gift” by Barbara Streisand? It was Christmas morning 1982. Our two-year-old daughter Kelly was very excited about Santa Claus, presents, and our Christmas tree. She awoke early and we enjoyed every minute of her delight. Christmas was perfect; I couldn’t have been happier. “After brunch I started to feel ill. Being nine months pregnant but not due until New Year’s, I wasn’t sure why I was having so much discomfort. My husband Pat was worried, so he took me to the hospital at 12:30 p.m. The nurses said I wasn’t ready to be admitted yet, and my doctor said to send me home, so we didn’t have to spend Christmas day in the hospital. “Wrong call! Sparing you any details, our beautiful Christmas baby, Amy Nicole, was born at 2:30 p.m. My best Christmas gift ever!” Marcy Watt Beloit  “My most memorable Christmas was 1984. I was 18 years old. “I met a wonderful boy six months earlier…and thought I was in love. I remember so clearly that Christmas Eve. I saw him briefly, then went to Mass with my parents. And as I lay in bed that night, I remember staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t sleep. I was so filled with anticipation and excitement…it puzzled me. I hadn’t felt that way since I was a small child, awaiting Santa. “And I remember realizing that I felt that way because this was my first Christmas with this boy. And we were so close, such true friends, that the holiday had renewed meaning. It wasn’t the gift that I thought he might bring me…it was just knowing that I had someone so special with whom to celebrate. “Today, 18 years later and approaching my 14th wedding anniversary with this ‘boy,’ I still remember that night, so special.” Elaine Russell Reolfi North Canton  “We had become foster parents to a special needs little boy several months before Christmas. As a foster mother, the chance was always there for Danny to go back to his natural family. “I prayed that if Danny was going to be with us for a very long time, to show me a rose on Christmas Eve. “As we were exchanging gifts, my sister-in-law handed me a gift to open. The paper appeared to be ribbons of red on white paper. As I looked at it more closely, I saw it was actually hundreds of roses tightly drawn together in lines to form a colorful design. “My heart was filled with peace and tremendous joy for this was my sign. “Danny has been in long-term foster care with us now for 16 years. Danny’s family visits and assures me they are pleased with his placement.” Mrs. Deirdre Svab Streetsboro Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora  “In 1945 when I was 17 years old I was due to sing in the choir at St. Mary’s Church in Riverside, Iowa. A terrible snowstorm hit on Christmas Eve. In the morning the old car we had wouldn’t start, so my father and I proceeded to walk the one and one-half miles to church. We cut across the field and when we came out on the highway, the snow was almost to my knees, and there was a crust on top which made it twice as hard to walk. “Back in those days they never had a midnight Mass but instead had a 5 a.m. Mass every Christmas Day. We made it to Mass on time. After Mass a kind neighbor who lived not too far from us offered us a ride part of the way home. Needless to say, we accepted.” Mrs. Robert (Thelda) Hill Windham  “When I was just a child, money was scarce; we didn’t get presents like the kids today. But we had so many other pleasant things to remember. “My very fondest memory is when Daddy used to bring in a bale of straw on Christmas Eve. He would spread this straw out under the dining room table. It represented the bed that Jesus laid in when he was born in a manger at Bethlehem. “All six of us children took turns lying on the straw. It made the birth of Jesus very real. My Dad was the one who got to sleep on it all night, however. “Our gifts were usually an orange, an apple, and some nuts, if we were lucky. A good meal completed our Christmas day. “But I will never forget the wonderful smell of that straw. It was Christmas to me; and to this very day (I’m 75 now) I still like to sit where I can smell the straw from our Nativity.” Caroline Roseman Poland St. Nicholas Parish, Struthers  “Three years before my husband died of cancer, he had double bypass surgery. He hadn’t worked for several months. He always wanted golf clubs. I had a part time job and vowed that he was going to get them. So I put them in layaway and prayed I would get the money to pay for them. “Christmas morning, we wrapped up a golf bag and put it under the tree. He was happy with that and said maybe next year he could get the clubs to fill it. Unknown to him, our two youngest sons went up in the attic and brought down another gift. None of us will ever forget the look on his face when he opened it and found the clubs. The tears in his eyes and smile on his face really made our Christmas. It taught us all a lesson, and it’s a memory we will always cherish.” Mrs. Patricia Baker Warren  “My family lived in the country, one mile to the nearest school. But our parents wanted us to go to a Catholic school, which was two miles farther. No school bus, so we had to walk. On the First Friday of the month, Mother gave us money to go by train. That was a special treat. “On Christmas Eve, we went to Midnight Mass. If we were lucky, there was a moonlit night. [We] had to carry a flashlight. We couldn’t all go, so one of our parents had to stay at home with the preschool children. Then, after coming home from church, we had a treat. Our mother from Czechoslovakia really made good nut rolls and special cookies. Then after eating, Santa came with a gift for each one: Not a bunch of toys but something to wear. The children six and under received one toy. “Certainly a big change. The children of today have too much. They are truly spoiled. That is the fault of the parents.” Margaret Malaney Canton   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001