DICKSON CITY — The Cognettis go big for Thanksgiving.
Leo Cognetti and Mary Petriello look over the Cognetti family tree during the family’s 50th annual Thanksgiving dinner at Genetti Manor in Dickson City. JASON FARMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
They continue a tradition that started in a back room at Brutico’s restaurant in Old Forge in 1966. Less than two dozen attended the family get-together in the first years. But as their numbers multiplied, the tradition grew.
This year, to celebrate the formal feast’s 50th year, 151 of them trekked from faraway homes in California, Texas, Georgia and closer northeast and mid-Atlantic states.
License plates from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York mingled with the Pennsylvania plates in the parking lot of Genetti Manor, where they’ve held the banquet for the last 10 years or so.
“It’s about love,” said Larry Cognetti, now of Darien, Georgia, and one of 23 first cousins who preserve for their children a tradition his uncle Joseph and aunt Domenica, both of Moosic, started. “Everyone is here out of unbelievable love for Uncle Joe and Aunt Min.”
Amid clamoring chaos, the entire family piled together for a family photo. Young children, part of the fourth generation keeping the tradition, squirmed as they each held a sheet of paper together spelling out “50th Cognetti Family Thanksgiving.”
With a little help before the banquet, Maria Cognetti, Joe and Domenica’s only daughter, assembled a family tree illustration that includes all 186 Cognettis. Duplicates were shared with everyone at the table.
The cousins also received etched candy dishes marking the dinner’s 50th anniversary, in honor of Joe Cognetti. The late feast founder had built a successful career in the candy business and started several companies in New York.
The Cognetti family holds its 50th annual Thanksgiving dinner at Genetti Manor in Dickson City.
Joseph and Domenica Cognetti both died in 2009, just two months apart from each other. Their two children, Ralph and Maria, plan the dinner each year and wrangle up as many relatives as they can. Usually that’s only 80 to 100 people, Maria Cognetti said.
Tears welled up her eyes as she spotted a cousin who hadn’t joined the party in many years.
“I told him,” she paused to catch herself. “That you need to be there.”
All but two of Joe Cognetti’s seven siblings have died. Leo Cognetti, 87, and Mary Petriello, 83, both attended on Thursday.
“I’m going to tell you the real story,” Leo Cognetti said spreading his hands. “We were six boys and two girls. My dad was a strict man. You had to do things right. My mother was a loving mother.
“We always stuck together, as you can see here. We never had any serious problems, so we’re thankful,” he said.
As the crowd of kin took to their seats before dinner, Ralph Cognetti took the microphone to applaud them for making the trip. He reminded them to be grateful for each other.
“When I say that the love that we share is unique in this world, recognize it and cast your arms around it,” he said.
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joconnell@timesshamrock.com
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