One thing I ask, this I seek, to dwell
In the Heart of God all the days of my life.”
Psalms 27:4
 
God grant His deepest blessings and life’s greatest joys to Frieda M. Formato, who celebrated a very special milestone in her life.  By God’s grace, she celebrated her 100th Birthday, November 16.  As we say in Italian dialect “C’ent an” (100 years), she has reached it!  She was honored by her family and friends on November 12, with a celebration of life at The Temple Hill Tavern.  

Frieda speaks candidly of her century of life, but sometimes gets emotional about the difficult times, of which there were many during her era.  The Great Depression, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War, etc., bring bittersweet memories to mind, when she relates what life was like during those trying times for her and her family.  During WWII, she recalls getting a letter from a soldier who was stationed in the jungles of Panama, and was confused, not knowing whether or not to respond.  Asking her father what she should do, he encouraged her to write back to him.  Little did she know at the time, the soldier had already arranged for permission to write to his daughter via the efforts of a fellow soldier who became his friend during a hospital recovery event.  The soldier who obtained permission was Frieda’s cousin.  The love- struck soldier eventually proposed to Frieda, on his first R&R back to the states.  His name is Anthony M. Formato (Tony as he was known).  After the war ended, and he was honorably discharged from the Army, they were happily married in the old Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh, NY.

Since that date, she gave birth to two children, James and Nancymarie. Tony and Frieda enjoyed the honor and pride of seeing both their children pursue and obtain college degrees, marriages, and welcoming their daughter-in-law Sharon (nee Nichols) and son-in-law Walter A. “Bud” Rolfs into their family.  They also experienced the pride of becoming grandparents throughout this time.  Unfortunately, Frieda dealt with the passing of her beloved husband after 48 years of blissful marriage.  From this time on she would attend all future family events alone.

Her six grandchildren also followed the paths of their parents: Michelle, Amy Marie, Danielle, Eric, James and Jonelle not only received their Bachelors’ Degrees, but also their Masters’ Degrees.  In fact, her grandson, Eric, graduated from the USMA at West Point in 1999, following in his father’s footsteps, when he graduated from USMA in 1973.  Frieda attended all the graduation ceremonies for each grandchild.  Five of her grandchildren were married during the years of 1977 to 2010. Grandsons-in-law Saul, Kevin, Joe, and Bruce, as well as granddaughter-in-law, Brianna, were welcomed into her ever-growing family.

Frieda welcomed the births of her thirteen Great Grandchildren Maegan, Isabella, Hailey, Anthony E., Anthony M., Joshua, Joey, James, Reagan, Arianna, Colton, Spencer, and Trevor.  They range in age from College Sophomore, High School Senior, High School Junior, High School Sophomores, High School Freshmen, sixth grade, fifth grade and finally, third grade.

The second oldest of eight surviving siblings, Thomasina, Louis, Virginia, Genevieve, Thomas, Robert and Carl, she could not finish high school in order to stay home and care for her younger siblings while her mother, Nancy (nee Alfano) and her father, Thomas, worked to support their family. From her generation of brothers and sisters came 27 nieces and nephews. On her husbands’ side of the family, she had eight nieces and nephews.

Throughout the years, Frieda has “adopted” a few extra family members Geysa, Patrick, Lenny, and Dr. Chris. She speaks of them just as she speaks of her blood relatives.  On September 10, of this year, she joined in the sadness of the passing of her son-in-law Bud, whom she always acknowledged as more of a son.

Frieda is a very spirit-filled individual who loves and practices her Catholic faith and is always ready to offer whatever assistance she is physically able to provide to not only family but also to those in need.  She is adamantly an American patriot, truly loving her country, believing in faith, family and friends.

Her life reflects the qualities of the first-generation Italian American culture, working very hard and thanking God for this opportunity to work, in her beloved America, the greatest blessing ever.  May Frieda be blessed with continued good health, peace, and joy, surrounded in the love of her beautiful family.
 
Presentation Sisters invite you to a Morning Retreat on Saturday, December 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., to be held at Presentation Administration Center, 84 Presentation Way, New Windsor.

  Sr. Virginia Wilkinson will present “Waiting for the Dough to Rise,” a morning of reflection, in which you are invited to return to Bethlehem, to take a fresh look at Jesus who nourishes us and asks us to be “bread blessed and broken,” for others.

To RSVP or for any questions, please contact: Kelly 845-564-0513, ext. 101, or email kellyr@sistersofthepresentation.org.
 
May you always have an angel at your side.