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Gathering fulfills Anna-belle McFadden'S wish to see friends, bequeath items
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
About 12 years ago, Anna-belle McFadden missed the bus that was to have taken her to Pittsburgh for a polka dance, so, in keeping with her personality, she drove there for the event and arrived ahead of the bus.
Also, holidays were spiced up a bit for her family largely because McFadden, 82, loved to deliberately dress ostentatiously and never worried about being humorously outlandish.
Those were just two of several stories and recollections members of McFadden’s family shared with one another during a recent surprise potluck dinner and party at the Phoenix House, 850 N. Meridian Road on the West Side, to honor her.
The gathering also fulfilled McFadden’s wish to see friends and bequeath to some of them certain possessions in her apartment in the building.
“She’s always been a lot of fun,” said Sheri Noble of Struthers, who’s McFadden’s oldest granddaughter. “She loves holidays and always dressed up with a hat.”
“We would wait for her entrance on holidays to see how she would be dressed,” added Sue McFadden, Annabelle’s daughter-in-law.
Roughly 40 family members, friends and others who came to welcome McFadden back for a visit to her former residence enjoyed one another’s company, along with a meal of chicken, rice, lasagna, beans, salad and a variety of desserts.
McFadden lived at the Phoenix House until early August, at which time she was admitted to Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman because of declining health and a need for greater hands-on care, Sue explained.
“I feel overwhelmed,” said Annabelle, trying to fight back tears. “This was a complete surprise.”
For about seven years, McFadden owned a restaurant and bar on Youngstown’s South Side called The Diplomat Lounge. After selling the business, she worked 20 years at a similar establishment called The Pastime on South Avenue.
She also loved to cook (haluski and beef tips with noodles were family favorites), play bingo at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Struthers and elsewhere, and hear performances by the late Joe Fedorchak, one of the area’s most-popular polka musicians, noted Kathy Fait of Boardman, another of McFadden’s six grandchildren.
“She kept on the go; I couldn’t hold her down,” said McFadden’s son, Richard McFadden, adding that she also enjoyed occasional trips to casinos such as Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Newell, W.Va.
The soft-spoken Annabelle also enjoys visits from Shepherd of the Valley’s employees, with whom she’s very friendly and cooperative, said Kim Osborn and Kim Brothers, the facility’s activities director and one of McFadden’s nurses, respectively.
What was a driving force in allowing Annabelle to remain so active until recently?
“I didn’t sit still,” she said with a smile.