The 38^th Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is this coming next weekend, kicking off with the 12 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 coronation of Regina Maria XXXVII Bryanna DeFazio.

 

WVIHF Office Assistant Lydia Baldini shared how DeFazio and her court were chosen. 

 

“All court members are chosen by a selection committee, as is the queen; however, each candidate for queen undergoes an interview process,” she said. 

 

Several from Bridgeport are part of this year's royalty including Maid of Honor Rachel Nicole Reppert. She is a junior at Bridgeport High School, where she is a member of the BHS Dance Ensemble, Drug-Free Clubs of America and Student Council Executive Board. She is the daughter of Clifton and Maria Reppert and the granddaughter of Joan Secreta LeJeune and the late Stephen and Mary Reppert. Rachel’s Italian ancestry is traced to San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy.

 

 

Among this year’s princesses are BHS students Lindsey Berardi, Nicole LaRocca and Gianina Renzelli.

 

Lindsey Berardi is the daughter of Heather Berardi and Brent Berardi and the granddaughter of Billy “Skip” Mills and Cheryl Mills. Her Italian heritage is from her great-great-grandfather who is from Calabria. Lindsey is a BHS senior and is active in Student Council, Key Club, DECA and French Honorary.

 

Nicole LaRocca is junior at BHS, where she is on the tennis team, Student Council Executive Board and Drug-Free Club. She is the daughter of Joe and Connie Renzelli LaRocca and the granddaughter of Anna Marie Renzelli, the late Philip Renzelli and the late Joe and Concetta LaRocca.

 

Gianina Renzelli is the daughter of Julio “Bub” and Tammy Renzelli and the granddaughter of Howard and Bonita McElroy and the late Julio and LaVaughn Renzelli. Her Italian ancestry is traced to the towns of Parenti and Cosenza in the Calabria region of Italy. Gianina is a BHS senior and is a member of the Lady Indians basketball team, Drug-Free Club and Student Council.

On the Junior Court are Emily Aman, Isabel Gray Cann, Ashley Denson and Sophia Devono.

 

Emily Aman is the daughter of Tom Aman Jr. and Rebecca and Frank Devono Jr. She is the granddaughter of Tom Aman Sr., Mary Beth (Cava) Aman, Don and Nora Gump and Dr. Frank Sr. and Dr. Kay Devono. Her Italian ancestry is traced to San Giovanni, Italy. Emily is a freshman at Bridgeport High School and also has taken English Literature at Fairmont State University. She likes singing, music, art, reading and writing. While a student of Bridgeport Middle School, she was in the show choir and played piano for the BMS Jazz Band.

 

Isabel Gray Cann is the daughter of Tim and Sarah Cann McNeely and the granddaughter of Sam and Phyllis Mazza Cann and Tom and Linda McNeely. Her Italian ancestry is traced to L’Aquila, Abruzzo region, San Nicandro Garganico in Puglia region and the Calabrian region. “Gray” is a middle school student at Notre Dame High School. While attending St. Mary’s Grade School, she was on the volleyball team. She is a member of the GFWC Juniorettes of Bridgeport and enjoys reading, riding horses and playing piano.

 

Ashley Denson is the daughter of Chris and Amy Crowley Denson and the granddaughter of Leigh and Ethel Marie Devono Shorr, John and Barbara Denson and Tom and Annette Crowley. Her maternal grandmother’s family comes from San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy. Ashley goes to Bridgeport Middle School where she is on Student Council, the Quiz Bowl Team, the strings ensemble and has participated in the Modern Woodsman speech competition. She loves reading and playing the violin.

 

Sophia Devono is the daughter of Frank Jr. and Rebecca Dawn Devono and the granddaughter of Frank Dominick Devono Sr., Mary Katherine (Pitrolo) Devono and Donald and Nora Gump. Her Italian ancestry is also traced to San Giovanni, as well as Palermo. Sophia attends Johnson Elementary School and she likes reading, cheering and gymnastics; science, painting and taking photos. She also takes piano lessons.

 

Children from Bridgeport serving on the Minor Court are Samuel Denson, Juliet Hess, Ansley Leach, Aubrey Morrison and Francesca Reed.

 

Serving as crown bearer, Samuel Denson is the son of Chris and Amy Crowley Denson and the grandson of Leigh and Ethel Marie Devono Shorr, John and Barbara Denson and Tom and Annette Crowley. He is a student at Simpson Elementary and he plays baseball and soccer. His Italian heritage is from his maternal grandmother’s side of the family as the Devono and Marchio families come from San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy. He said his favorite Italian tradition is helping in the kitchen and getting to taste foods like homemade noodles and ravioli, Easter bread and pita piata.

 

Juliet Hess is the daughter of Mary Helen Shields – Regina Maria XX – and Ned Shields. Her great-grandfather Russell Bonasso was one of the festival’s founders and her Poppie John Sheilds was a longtime member of the festival board of directors. Her Nonnie is Mary Shields. Juliet goes to Johnson Elementary School and loves drawing, reading and karate. Her Italian ancestry also comes from San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy.

 

Ansley Leach is the daughter of Adam and Adrea Leach and the granddaughter of Dawna and Dr. Mark Vecchio and Stan and Michele Leach. She goes to Johnson Elementary and is a cheerleader. She likes to dance, play piano, ski and boat. Her mother’s ancestry is traced to Prignano Cilentro, Salerno in the region of Campania.

 

Aubrey Morrison is in first grade at St. Mary’s Grade School. She is in the show choir and like performing on stage. She is the daughter of Jamus and Carisa Bonamico Morrison and the granddaughter of Mark and Judy Bonamico. Aubrey takes dance lessons at Cadalzo Contemporary Studio. She also likes arts and crafts.

 

Francesca Reed is the daughter of James F. Reed, III and Jacqueline Iquinto Reed. Her grandparents are Pete F. and JoAnn Ellis Iquinto and James F. Reed, II and Barbara Deel Reed. She is a student and show choir member at St. Mary’s Grade School. She takes dance at Cadalzo Contemporary Studio, tumbling with Kristi Kiefer, voice with Pam Krall and Kindermusik with Carla Edgel. Her Italian ancestry comes from her mother’s families – all from San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy.

 

See a full list of all court members with photos HERE.

 

Honorees for this year’s festival are Italian-American Man of the Year John “Sheriff” Tiano, Italian-American Woman of the Year Catherine Goings, Clarksburg Mayor and Bridgeport businesswoman; Honorary Italian Man of the Year Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin; Honorary Italian Woman of the Year Nicole Folio. Marshall University Excellence in Education Award Recipient is Sondra Colombo and Samuel F. and Lucia D’Annunzio Mother and Father of the Year are Mary and Joe Minard.

 

Leading up to the downtown Clarksburg Labor Day Weekend festival are a series of events, including today’s Pasta Cook-Off at Jackson Square. The annual event also includes a canned pepper contest,  homemade wine contest and hot pepper eating contest. Cooking began at 8 a.m. with events starting at 10 a.m. and tasting at noon. 

 

Also taking place today – 12-3 p.m. at Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library - is a Showcase of Local Authors featuring Italian-American Author Diana Pishner Walker. A Wed., Aug. 31 golf tournament at Bridgeport Country Club and the Thurs., Sept. 1 honorees banquet at Bridgeport Conference Center also precede the main festival event.

 

In addition to vendors, exhibits, contests and lots of Italian food specialties, the festival will feature free performances by Frankie Avalon, These Three Tenors, “Stayin’ Alive” and AMICI, among other entertainers.

See a full festival schedule HERE.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Regina Maria XXXVII Bryanna DeFazio, Maid of Honor Rachel Reppert, Queen's Court Members Lindsey Berardi, Nicole LaRocca and Gianina Renzelli and Junior Court Members Emily Aman, Isabel Gray Cann, Ashley Denson and Sophia Devono.