FAMILIES, KINDNESS FILL CHRISTMAS WITH CHEER.Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
It was a small gesture, but one that cuts right to the heart of today. Christmas Day. John Antonucci giving Sal Rojas a Nativity Nativity See also Christmas. Neglectfulness (See CARELESSNESS.) Nervousness (See INSECURITY.) Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus. [N.T. candle. The Granada Hills man reached into his box of Christmas decorations Wednesday afternoon and walked the 20 feet from the grave sites of his wife and son, buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery The San Fernando Mission Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Los Angeles Archdiocese since 1800, and is located at 11160 Stranwood Avenue in the Mission Hills community of northern Los Angeles, California, near the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. , to the grave site of Rojas' nephew. ``Here, Mr. Rojas,'' Antonucci said. ``I think this will make your scene even more beautiful.'' Rojas looked up from his own box of Christmas decorations and smiled. ``Thank you, Mr. Antonucci,'' he said, taking the candle. ``Will you be coming back on Christmas Eve as always?'' Antonucci nodded. ``Yes, I will, Mr. Rojas.'' ``Good,'' he said. ``I will bring you some of the best homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. tamales you will ever eat. My wife's.'' ``Thank you, Mr. Rojas, I appreciate that,'' Antonucci said. ``Thank you, I appreciate this,'' Rojas said, lighting the candle and placing it at the foot of a small Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. he has decorated every year for the past 18 years at his nephew's grave. Antonucci nodded, and returned to a large Christmas tree he was decorating for his wife, Rosemarie, and his son Russell, who died in 1976 at 19 from a fatal blood ailment ail·ment n. A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness. . ``That man and I have spoken maybe half a dozen words in all the years we've been doing this, but there is a bond, a feeling we've developed with our eyes and actions,'' Antonucci said, looking around the cemetery at hundreds of families decorating their own Christmas trees. ``They all have it. It's called respect. Christmas is the time when you respect and remember your family - all of your family, the living and the dead.'' Antonucci looked around and smiled, watching two little kids chase each other around a tree as their parents knelt knelt v. A past tense and a past participle of kneel. knelt Verb the past of kneel knelt kneel nearby setting up a Nativity scene A nativity scene, also called a crib or crèche (meaning "crib" or "manger" in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. In Italy it is known as presepe at a grave site. ``Look at that,'' the Granada Hills man said. ``Isn't that absolutely beautiful?'' Yes, it was. Absolutely beautiful. As far as the eye could see, a cemetery filled with decorated Christmas trees, rows of tinsel tin·sel n. 1. Very thin sheets, strips, or threads of a glittering material used as a decoration. 2. Something sparkling or showy but basically valueless: the tinsel of parties and promotional events. , Nativity scenes and little toys. No one crying. Only smiles and laughing. Families were together again in one place. All of them. ``You know, one time I was just sitting here talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to my son when someone came by and said, he's not really there, you know. ``I said, Why? If God is everywhere, then my son is here,'' Antonucci said. He turns to hear someone yell, ``Dad.'' It is his daughter Sharon, coming by to help him decorate the tree. Within minutes, two more women show up, Jill Young and Laura Contreras. It has been 21 years since Russell died, but every Christmas some of his friends from high school and junior high - classmates Classmates can refer to either:
``I think it's the Italian in me,'' he laughs. ``Got to be the biggest and best. Seriously, it's very touching that they still remember my son after all these years. It says a lot about the kind of kid he was. ``Often, I'll come by for a visit, and find a letter or note left from someone Russell went to school with,'' Antonucci said, looking up to see Sal Rojas putting some empty boxes into the trunk of his car. ``Merry Christmas, Mr. Antonucci,'' Rojas said, waving to him. ``Thank you again for the candle.'' ``Merry Christmas, Mr. Rojas,'' Antonucci replied. ``I can't wait to taste your wife's homemade tamales.'' The two men laugh, their eyes full of admiration for each other. It's called respect. A Nativity candle for homemade tamales. A small gesture, but one that cuts right to the heart of today. Christmas. Dennis McCarthy's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) John Antonucci and Laura Contreras decorate a tree at Antonucci's son's grave. (2) Jill Young was one of the friends of Russell Antonucci who helped put up a Christmas tree at his grave at San Fernando Mission Cemetery. Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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