Thursday, December 10, 2009

NORTHAMPTON - Appearing on the upper left corner of the $25 check Judith F. Lococo of Leeds sends to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund every year is the name of her husband, Charles J. Lococo, with her name right underneath his.

"Every check I send has both our names on it," she said, "but not for long. I'm down to the last box."

The new batch of checks that arrived in the mail from Florence Savings Bank bear her name only. Charlie, her husband of 64 years, died June 28 at the age of 90. The check she sent to the Toy Fund is in his beloved memory; she and her husband have sent checks in to the Gazette's Conz Street office in support of the Toy Fund for as long as she can remember.

The Gazette-sponsored fund gives certificates redeemable at participating area stores to eligible families around the holiday season. Lococo says she regularly donates to the couple's other favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

"Christmas was a very happy occasion for us, mostly because we loved kids," she said. "Charlie was very artistic and loved to decorate. He'd be out there stringing those lights, painting his scenes. If I get a wreath out there now, I'm doing good."

Charles and Judith Lococo lived together in a house on Stowell Street in Leeds for 59 years, and she's still there.

She was born and raised in Charleston, S.C., and met the love of her life at a dance in Fort Benning, Ga., in 1941 - and, man, could that soldier cut a rug. They couldn't take their eyes off each other and danced all night. And then he was shipped overseas for four long years. They wrote each other all through the war.

"When he returned, he said, #What would you say if I asked you to marry me?' I said, #What do you think I've been waiting for all these years?'"

The dancing that brought them together 68 years ago continued for decades afterwards.

"We dressed up for dinner and danced every Saturday night at the Whale Inn," said Lococo. "Boy, does that make me feel old."

Her dancing days are done. Arthritis has seen to that. "I'm 91 and a half," she said with a chuckle. She gets the "half" part from her great-grandchildren.

"We had some good times and some sad times, too," said Lococo of her marriage.

The couple's son, Charles Jr., was killed in a car accident in 1972 at the age of 23, only weeks after graduating from Bucknell.

"Losing a child is the worst thing there is," she said. "You have no idea what it's like unless you've lived it."

Daughter Kathy is a nurse, and checks in on her mom every day.

Charles Lococo worked as a baker at the University of Massachusetts for 30 years while his wife worked for the phone company. "I worked there for 30 years and I've been retired 31," said Lococo. "It doesn't seem possible."

It also doesn't seem possible that her husband of 64 years is gone.

"I talk to him all the time," she said. "I feel like he's here. When I wake up in the morning, I sense that he's right there beside me. Then I open my eyes and, no, I'm still all by myself. Sometimes I say, #Oh, Charlie, why did you leave me?'"

"I opened the last box of checks this morning," she said - another reminder of all that change that keeps on coming.

"Life is made up of good times and bad times," she said. "All I have now are memories."

Memories, especially the good ones, go a long way, she said. And she takes comfort in knowing that the donations she and hundreds of others make to the Toy Fund help create happy memories for a lot of other families, too.

Today's donors

In loving memory of our grandparents - Ken, Martha, and Bill and great-grandparents Sid and Julie, Bill and Grace, and in honor of "Gigi" from Riley O'Brien Sullivan and Quinn Curran Sullivan: $150

In loving memory of Esther & Joe from Tom & Ginny: $60

In loving memory of Paul L. from Karen: $25

In loving memory of Bill Lucey from Alison: $20

In loving memory of Joseph V. Porada Jr., Mom, Dad, Brother Carl & Grandson Michael, Love Joanne: $100

In memory of Donald and Dorothy Packard and my parents, Ralph and Winifred Porter, from Ralph: $25

Anonymous: $25

Merry Christmas, Steve & Liz Veit: $100

Merry Christmas from Taj, Taylor, Marie, and Malik: $50

From Nell and Kate: $100

In loving memory of our parents, Henry & Lillian Chapin, Ed & Virginia Mikucki, from Peter E. & Diane C. Mikucki: $100

In memory of my friend Donald Laplam from Bill Boyle: $50

The gift of Elizabeth, Caroline, William and Anne: $100

In honor of Charles E. Chase from his great-grandchildren Katie, Hannah, Owen and Simon Dimock: $50

In loving memory of Angelo & Irene Vacchelli, from their grandchildren John, Calvin and David and Lorraine & Wallace Herzig: $30

In memory of Margo and Dick, Anonymous: $20

From Betty & Joe: $75

For the little children, in memory of Ma & Pa Alfred & Grace Fondakowski, and Mom & Dad Richard & Edith Hathaway. We miss you and love you all, love Bub & Pat Hathaway: $25

Happy Holidays from Dick & Janet O'Dea: $50

In loving memory of Frances C. Smart, a contributor to the Toy Fund for many years, from LeAnn Mason: $25

From Roxy: $50

In memory of Marian Holman from her "Bridge Club": $10

On behalf of our grandchildren, Abby, Jocelyn & Bailey, so that all children can experience the joys of Christmas, from Jim & Kathy Dean: $50

In honor of our mother and grandmother, Peg McQueen, The Spirit of Christmas, from Amy Kahn and Jeff McQueen & family: $50

In memory of Michael Sojka, from Albin & Beedee Karpinski: $25

Anonymous: $100

In loving memory of Donnita, Leon and Stephen from Mom, Linda, Diane and Paul: $75

In memory of John & David Favaro, from Ernestine, Kevin, Nancy & Jack, Susan & Pat: $50

In loving memory of Janett and Gordon Clark, from Laurie & Jimmy: $100

In memory of my late husband Thomas A. Poulin and all of my beloved departed family and friends, from Patricia Poulin: $50

In loving memory of our Great Gramma West who loved Christmas, from Kara, Colin, Sam & Eli: $25

In honor of our little granddaughters, Alexandra Noelle, born last Christmas Eve and her big sister Alyssa Marie from Ken & Charlotte Wood: $25

In loving memory of our Great-Grandparents, Peter A. and Alice H. (Nana) Chabot, from Trevor, Garret, Justin and Taylor: $100

In memory of Eleanor Mandeville, my sister, my buddy, always missed by Mary: $25

To honor our seven grandchildren & to give joy to other children, from Norman & Eva Brown: $70

Anonymous: $65

In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gore Jr., Marshall Pease Jr., love Jane & John Pease and Nellie Pease: $25

In memory of George Munroe who loved kids, from his family: $25

In loving memory of family & friends, love Rick, Betsy & family: $180

Merry Christmas, from Lillian & Ted Warner: $50

In memory of James M. Dostal Jr.: $100

In memory of our little angel, Christopher Crepeau. We miss you so much, Love Mom, Tom, Brian and Amanda: $25

In memory of Grandpa Henderson. You are missed, Love, Tom, Cyndie, Brian and Amanda: $25

In honor of Al and Sue Rudnitsky for their endless lessons in generosity. Thank You. Emma, Regan and Maggie Thibault: $50

Previous total: $9,638

Today's total: $2,380

Year to date: $12,018