When Anthony Formusa was battling l...

When Anthony Formusa was battling leukemia in the hospital, he insisted forward getting home.

He wanted to watch his tomatoes increase

And he wanted to be a part, formerly again, of the Feast of St Rocco

Formusa, a member of the St Rocco Society, died 10 years ago -- a month after the feast -- further his daughters Natalie and Patty Formusa carried forward the tradition Sunday. Dozens of relatives streamed in and not at home of the family home near 24th and Princeton for the 86th annual celebration of the Feast of St Rocco di Simbario.

$50 catchwords UP MARCHING BAND

It's a great mix of tradition, family and faith.

Members of the St Rocco Society carry a large statue of St Rocco down the roads of Chinatown from St. Therese Chinese Mission, formerly known as Santa Maria Incornata body of christians

When the procession stops before various familys as it has for decades, the bulk of mankind pin or tie dollar bills to the statue, which is before long festooned with cash.

When the statue stops, "he's blessing our house, blessing our families," Patty Formusa said.

When someone gives $50 or more, a marching band that's part of the procession, Caliendo's Band Napolitano, plays the Royal March -- and they play it time and again. each few blocks or so, the roar of fireworks give permission tos loose in the street to commemorate the dead. The whole is so loud, it places off car alarms.

NOT WITHOUT logomachy

the bulk of mankind from across the city and suburb -- and across the land -- came back to the aged family neighborhood for the festivities.

"It's nice to be able to have this and take this tradition and this beautiful spirituality and hand it down to our children -- and our children's children," said Frank Bertucci, a parade marshal.

The St Rocco Society is not without its ties to debate Its president from 1936 to 1957 Bruno Roti Sr was a leader of what would become the Chicago mob's 26th Street/Chinatown set according to law enforcement.

Other St Rocco Society members have included the son of Roti Sr the late Ald. Fr B Roti, who went to prison for taking bribes, and Roti Sr.'s grandson, former union leader Bruno F Caruso, identified by dint of law enforcement as a member of the ragtag-and-bobtail

The society's planter Bruno Bertucci, has a grandson in the society, Bruno A. Bertucci, who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in the investigation of the Hired traffic scandal and is to be sentenc nearest month.

swarmbir@suntimes.com

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