THE HOVANIC REUNION

Aunt Carol in the front

Last Sunday my father's family held the Hovanic reunion again at my cousin Benny Susko's home south of Akron, Ohio. He and his wife Bonnie and two other cousins, Valerie and Lisa made all the arrangements for our every other year reunion.

Just one counter out of three with food.

Because dad was one of eleven children in a Catholic family there were an incredible amount of people there. We all were given name tags when we signed in. There was my uncle Adrian the youngest and only one of the eleven children still alive with his wife Carol and most of their grown children and grandchildren. There were cousins who live locally and cousins from out of state and three of my siblings who live locally and Joanne, my sister-in-law, the wife of my brother who died a little over five years ago, and her daughters and their children.

My cousin Thelma, who was my maid of honor, with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren came from Michigan Except for several funerals I had not seen her since the last reunion. We are close in age and spent a lot of time together as children although she lived in the city and I was a country girl. We spent a lot of time reminiscing about our childhood.

My cousins Laurie and Marianne

Although those putting on the reunion supplied the drinks, grilled hamburgers, brats and hotdogs, etc. everyone else brought something, too. There was enough food to have fed the close to 75 to 100 people for a week. So many incredibly delicious desserts. My sister Elaine mafe prune rolls, something our Aunt Catherine had made every Christmas when all her local siblings and their children came to her house Christmas night. She also made delicious nut rolls, too, but no one made those although I often do for Christmas as does my sister Suzanne.

I tried to talk to as many of y cousins as I could, but it was impossible with so many people. Some were sitting out on the large deck that went around two sides of Benny and Bonnie's house, and some were taking boat rides in a neighbor's boat down the canal to the lake beyond. I did get to talk briefly with some of my nieces and nephews, too. There were a lot of children running around. Those in charge of the reunion had furnished lots of coloring books and crayons for them, but I didn't see anyone using them.

My brother Phil and one of his daughter-in-laws

Gradually as the day wore on people slowly started leaving. My sister-in-law had driven my sister Elaine and I there. My sister Suzanne and brother Phil had both driven separately. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the tie I got home, but I felt so lucky to have had such a good time and the chance to catch up with some of my cousins and to visit with my Uncle Adrian and Aunt Carol even though they live close and I do stop in every so often to visit with the. I was happy to see their son who had been in a horrible accident four or five months ago looking great.

My sister Suzanne I blue next to cousin Thelma

I am also thankful to have such a large family even ones I don't know. Because my dad was the third in the family of eleven I am one of the oldest. His oldest sister had five children but the three oldest have all died. Thelma is five and a half years younger than I am and Benny even younger. I only hope Uncle Adrian keeps on living. He remembers so much about his growing up years and it's nice to listen to his stories even though I've heard them many times before.

Now I have to start planning the Jones family reunion for my mother's side for this month which is much smaller. Mom was one of four and the only one still alive is the youngest and he's in his nineties.

How large is your extended family?

Do you have reunions?