To the editor:
Mrs. Teresa Patero and Mrs. Lucy Perone had sons named Joseph who were hospitalized in 1939. They prayed and pledged to St. Joseph that if their sons became well they would have a Mass said and also would collect monies from their Italian friends for flowers to be placed at the St. Joseph’s statue on his name day, March 19.
They kept their promise and it was done in1940. Manville, being a Polish town and 1939 being the start of World War II with the invasion of Poland, the members of the Polish Rosary Society asked to be part of the celebration. They donated funds for the flowers with their intentions for the freedom of Poland.
With the attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, and with every family’s son volunteering for military service, additional families started contributing with the hope that their children would return safely.
In March, St. Joseph’s Day was the perfect holy day for the occasion because March is the beginning of Lent when there are no flowers present in churches with the exception of this day.
When victory was declared in the summer of 1945, the people did not want this tradition to be broken and they still kept giving funds for flowers.
When Mrs. Patero and Mrs. Perone passed away, their daughters continued the tradition. People, besides just giving monies, started baking cakes to be served after Mass in the church auditorium with coffee. After breakfast, many people already started to give money for the following year.
After all these years when most of the original family members have passed away, my nieces, Mary Ann Urbaniak and Monica Onashuck, are carrying on the tradition that should continue for some time. They even made plans for Monica’s daughter Danielle. She will make sure that wherever she is on March 19 flowers will be delivered to the nearest Catholic church.
I am very happy to be alive to share this story with you after all these years. People working together can make miracles happen.
Joseph D. Patero, son
Former Manville Mayor
Former State Assemblyman
Editor’s note: Mr. Patero said his nieces arranged for flowers to be on statues on the altar at Mass at Sacred Heart Church yesterday.

