A tradition remains

By Alberto Suris

Traditionally, during the Feast of the Three Saints that takes place during Labor Day weekend, members of the Society of San Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino take out the Three Saints in a procession through several streets of the neighborhood, and for more than thirty years, they have made a stop in front of Doña Agata DiMarca’s, house on Newbury Street, in Lawrence. This year, it was a very special stop, since Doña Agata is no longer with us.

During all those years the DiMarca family has collected dollar bills from family and friends, makes a roll as shown in the photo, and passes it to the members of the Society on board of the Vara where the Three Saints also travel.

Last year, Doña Ágata was photographed leaning on the front window greeting the crowd. Who would say that this was going to be her last year! Doña Agata died on January 4, 2018, one month after her 100th birthday.

The future of the Vara stop in front of the house located in Newbury St., is uncertain, although not impossible, since the house will be offered for sale, according to Nunzio, the eldest son of Ágata. “We could always talk to the future owner to allow us to continue the tradition; if not, we would talk to some other neighbor,” he said.