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Annual Stefani-Costa Family Reunion fun for all

By Billie Owens

(Submitted photos and information.)

The families of the late Baptist and Christina (Costa) Stefani, and Dominic and Johanna (Rigoni) Costa gathered for their 36th consecutive annual family reunion at  Mumford’s Freeman Park on Sunday, July 24, 2016. Both founding families made their homes in Lime Rock.

Christopher and Ann (Tracy) Publow, of Rochester, were this year’s event chairs.

After a cookout topped off with a buffet of cookies and ice cream novelties, there was a short business meeting. A review of family news since last year included:

  • Andrea Stefani, the daughter of Richard and Melanie Stefani, of Batavia, married Jacob Klos of Watertown on July 18, 2015;
  • Samantha Blake gave birth to our newest family member, Ryder Christopher Barclay, of Byron, on May 16, 2016;
  • Twenty-month-old Kate Aradine was the youngest in attendance. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and Bethany (Pocock) Aradine, of Bergen;
  • Bethany’s parents, Merlin and Marilyn (Costa) Pocock, of Bergen, were the longest married couple in attendance, at 41 years of wedded bliss;
  • Dorothy (Stefani) Bater, of Le Roy, was the oldest person in attendance, followed closely by Dolores (Stefani) Lathan, of Caledonia, who is one day younger.

Following the meeting, the family took photos, made spin-art paintings, pelted each other in a water-balloon toss, and tossed Cheetos onto the shaving-cream-covered heads of partners in a messy game of laughter and endurance (followed by cleaning each other off!).

Next year’s event chairs are Linda (Orlando) Totten, of Elba, Carol (Orlando) Panepento, of Pavilion, Gloria (Orlando) Oliver, of Le Roy, and Amy Panepento, of Le Roy.

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