Anniversaries
Written by Catholic SUN   
Anthony and Rose Geremia

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Anthony and Rose Geremia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 1st. They were married at St. John the Baptist Church in Syracuse. Father Theodore Sizing officiated. Tony was also known as Tony G. and Mr. G. on the job. He began his career 40 years ago with the Zirilli Paint Co. Later he worked for O’dai Painting Co. and Central City Painting Co. He was responsible for all the work done at the new Sibley Dept. In 1987 he received the Syracuse Builders Exchange Craftsmanship Award in recognition of Outstanding Craftsmanship Exhibited in Multi-Color Schemes and Graphics Executed at Extreme Heights on Scaffolds at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. He was also responsible for the painting and decorating at St. John the Evangelist Church. He retired from the Syracuse Painting Co. Rose left her job at General Electric Co. to raise their four children. Their children include son Francis (wife Patricia), son Thomas (wife Desiree), daughter Mary Angela (husband John Boyle) and daughter Joanne (husband James Weimar). They have been blessed with 11 grandchildren.
 
Written by Catholic SUN   
Leo and Jean (Stowe) Rafte

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Leo and Jean (Stowe) Rafte of Sherrill are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 17, 2009. They were married at St. Patrick’s Church, Oneida on Sept. 17, 1949 by the late Msgr. Thomas Quinn. They are planning to renew their vows at their present parish of St. Helena’s in Sherrill with the Rev. William Mesmer officiating. Both Leo and Jean have been very active members of their church over the years. They are the parents of three children: James and Barbara Rafte of Dover, DE; Karen and William Crowley of Rochester, NH and Michael Rafte of Scranton, PA. They have six grandchildren. They thank the Lord for a wonderful married life and the many blessings he has bestowed on them and their family over the years.
 
Written by Catholic SUN   
George E. and Virginia Joseph
georgeandvirginiajosephOn Sept. 26, 2009, George E. and Virginia (Hopkins) Joseph, will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary. After service in the Army during WWII, Virginia, Nurse Corp and George, Medical Corp., were married at St. Paul’s Church in Binghamton, NY by Msgr William Morrel on Sept. 26, 1946. They have two sons, George T. (Larrain) and Vincent (Linda), one granddaughter and two grandsons. They are members of Ss. John and Andrew Church in Binghamton, NY. They celebrated on Labor Day with a special family gathering.
 
Written by Catholic SUN   
Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. White
anniversaryWhite Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. White celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 2, 2009 with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Blessed Sacrament Chapel that morning. The couple was married on this date at St. John the Evangelist Church, Syracuse in 1949 by Virginia’s uncle, Father Paul L. Hemmer (deceased from our diocese) with the wish that “one day they might fill a pew.” Well, that did happen, as you will see!

Robert (Bob) graduated from R.P.I. in Troy and is a retiree of Niagara Mohawk. Virginia (Ginnie) graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing and is a homemaker of many years. Bob was always a dedicated husband and father, but also found time to be of service to others. He was an active member of Birthright, Syracuse Right to Life, A.R.C., St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Name Society of Blessed Sacrament, Nocturnal Adoration Society, Parents Guilds both at Bishop Ludden and Bishop Grimes, Special Education Parents Board, American Legion Boy Scout Troop #26 and W.A.F. Blue Army Diocesan Council.

Ginnie was a member of some of these organizations and also Eastwood Mothers Study Group and Blessed Sacrament Altar Society, doing mostly the “behind the scenes work” as her love was, and is, the caring of her family and the needs of others.   
Bob played tennis for many years and enjoyed golf after retirement, besides working in their vegetable garden and keeping their bushes sculpted around the yard. Ginnie, too, enjoys working in the gardens and yard.
Their greatest blessings are their 11 children. James (Joanie, deceased) of Texas, Mary (husband Dave) Morgan of Liverpool, Helen (husband Andrew) of Va., Leighton, Mary Gerarde (friend Beth Regan) of Conn., John (wife Michelle) of N.C., Thomas of Syracuse, Peter (wife Harriet) of Md. and Manlius, Paul (wife Lorraine) of Liverpool, Lt. Col. Andrew (wife Kim) of Washington, D.C. and Ohio, Maritherese (husband James) of N.C. and Mark of Syracuse. They have 23 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Activities are planned by their children, as they began to arrive for the weekend before the anniversary through the July 4th holiday. A memorable time for sure — Bob just wanted a “quiet” celebration!
“We can never thank God enough for our many gifts and blessings!”
 


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