A Tribute to Two Unique and Wonderful Moms, Julie and Jennie
Pictured above: Julia M. Joel (top) and Jennie Pezzetti (and sister on the bottom)
I wrote this Mother’s Day reflection last year shortly after Julie passed away and even though time has passed, I still miss both moms. I hope you enjoy this little tribute to Julie and Jennie.
It’s “Mothers Day,” a day of celebration and reflection during which our families honor the most important person in our lives. This year, the day has taken on a more bittersweet and somber meaning for Virginia and me because my mother-in-law, Julia Joel, passed away on April 22nd at our home here in Kenmore, WA. Julie was 87 and had been living with us for the last year. Julie and I had grown incredibly close. Truly, she had become my “second” mother (as my mom passed away in 2004). I had no idea that when we agreed to have Julie live with us I would be devoting a lot of time as her caretaker. Let me just say that having Julie here was challenging but in spite of her many health issues, helping her was the most humanizing and humbling experiences of my life.
Julie had that classic “movie actress” look in a lot of her pictures and having grown up in New Jersey she also had a cosmopolitan disposition. As a “Jersey Girl” she could also be pretty tough when she wanted to be! Over the years I was the subject of her sharp tongue on more than a few occasions. Yet, after knowing her for over 30 years we grew to love each other….Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be? She was an excellent cook with a keen palate and taught me quite a number of dishes that reflected her Hungarian background. She made the most wicked macaroni and cheese ever and anyone who has eaten my chocolate chip cookies is enjoying her recipe (they are irresistible). Until her failing eyesight made it impossible, Julie was one of those people who devoured mystery novels, did crossword puzzles and slaughtered all opponents in what she liked to call “a friendly game of Scrabble.” She was also a rabid baseball fan (Go Mariners!!!!) and she is the person responsible for introducing me to the game. She was a hoot to take to a ball game!
I’ll confess, now that Julie has passed away, our house has been really, really quiet and I’m feeling incredibly empty not having her here. I really do miss making her coffee in the mornings and arguing with her because she wouldn’t eat enough. I also miss her afternoon court dates with Judge Judy (which she never missed!) and watching an occasional old flick with her (she adored Tyrone Powers). It’s never nice to say goodbye to the people we love. It hurts bad and it the pain lasts for a long time; nevertheless, I’m grateful that over the last 30 years I was able to have what can only be described as a wonderful relationship with my mother-in-law that I’ll cherish forever. Thanks Julie………….As she would say: Play Ball!
Julia Matilda Joel
3/5/1924 – 4/22/2011
…and Jennie
The lady pictured above (circa 1946) is my mother, Jennie Pezzetti. You would never know it by looking at her, but my mom was one tough woman. Born in Clinton, IN (Feb. 13, 1923) to Italian immigrants, the small family moved to Cle Elum, WA where they cultivated a small farm for many years until moving to the Bay Area in the early 1940’s. My aunt refers to her sister as their father’s only son, because my mother did all the farm work: milking, bailing hay and tilling the land with a two-furrow plow! Even so my mom always said that her happiest days were spent on the farm with the animals, picking wild mushrooms and spending time in the hills near her home. Her connection with Cle Elum remained strong even though our family moved a number of times over the years (Reno NV, Burburnett TX, Layton UT).
This is a picture of my grandparents: Guiseppe & Giovanna Pezzetti at the farm in Cle Elum, WA.
Shortly before my mother died in 2004 I took her to her 62nd high school reunion. It was amazing to see some 40+ depression-age elders reunite in a world that is much different from the one they knew in the 1930’s. My mom told me that her family truly was poor in the modern sense: no indoor plumbing, no modern equipment, no electricity, not even a radio. She would occasionally mention that people would be happier if they weren’t chasing after a bunch of stuff they don’t need. Yes, my mom the philosopher.
My mom died on September 13, 2004 at her home outside Sparks, NV. I consider myself fortunate to have called her the Friday morning she passed away. In true form she told me it was beautiful outside and she was going to spend the day in her garden. A cultivator to the end, she was found that afternoon in her garden, unconscious. She passed away 3 days later at the age of 81. I really miss her.
Jennie (Pezzetti) Lupori
2/13/1923 – 9/13/2004





















