[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING IDA FIORELLA FOR HER UPCOMING BIRTHDAY

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Ida 
Fiorella, a longtime Buffalo resident who will be celebrating her 95th 
birthday this December 26th.
  Ida was born in Buffalo's West Side on December 26th, 1914. The 
daughter of Italian immigrants Joseph Pizzuto and Maria Cordaro 
Pizzuto, Ida attended Buffalo's public schools and went on to work in 
her family-owned grocery store at the intersection of Prospect and 
Virginia located in Buffalo, New York.
  Ida's brother Russell Pizzuto, now deceased, served honorably and was 
wounded in World War II; he was the father of six children.
  Ida and her family were parishioners at St. Anthony's Church where 
she married her husband, Vincent (Jimmy) Fiorella on November 11th, 
1940. Together Ida and Jim raised their three children, Russell, 
Bonnie, and Joseph, on Buffalo's West Side. Their marriage spanned 50 
years until Jim passed away on March 19th, 1991.
  When her children were grown, Ida went on to a successful career in 
retail sales. She spent a number of years at Hengerer's downtown, then 
at the Sample Shop on Hertel Avenue, and finally at Joseph's on 
Deleware Avenue, all located in Buffalo.
  Ida is a wonderful homemaker, avid Italian cook, and premier pie 
maker. One of her proudest accomplishments was encouraging all of her 
children to go on to receive a college education.
  Ida loves meeting and entertaining people and is very independent. 
Even to this day she does all of her own cooking, baking, and only 
stopped driving after her car was no longer road worthy. Ida still 
attends church and is a very devoted Catholic.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Ms. Ida Fiorella as she 
approaches the celebration of her 95th birthday. I congratulate Ida for 
her many contributions to her family, friends, and community and wish 
her many more years of happiness.

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