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Barbara Curran: leader

Corpus Christi: practice

Polished voices practices

Meghan & Molly participate

Flynn's: the first house...

A learning experience!

Stacy & Uricchio

Inside Mitchell Housing

Spreading cheer to elders

Keane & Adams' party

Channel (3) TV interview

Carolers: Andrea & Mike

Dark outside. Warm inside.

Davis' Family: Center St.

Jerry Orfitelli: gusto!

The air in Wethersfield was filled with the sounds of joyous voices as friends and neighbors joined in "Caroling for a Cause." As day turned to dusk, a hundred carolers volunteered their time and vocal talents to help the Richard M. Keane Foundation move another step closer toward its goal - honoring Mr. Keane, a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York City.

Mr. Keane was survived by his wife Judy and their extended family. With family and friends, the Keane family created the foundation which bears Mr. Keane's name. Its goal is to create a vibrant, educational and recreational youth-centered community center where "everyone plays and everyone wins." In support of that mission, family, friends and neighbors plan to come together to raise the initials funds to launch this labor of love and honor.

"Caroling for a Cause" was the second community activity which the foundation endorsed. In what will probably become an annual event, the caroling involved a hundred vocalists from all walks of life, younger and older alike. Five groups of about 20 carolers were assigned the joyous task of visiting and entertaining homes and businesses which subscribed to their visit with at least a twenty-five dollar contribution to the cause.

An hour before the 3:30 pm start of the groups' first Yule appointments, everyone met in nave of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Silas Deane Highway. Groups were organized and assigned their designed visits. With a red folder of songs in hand, all practiced together several rousing songs and hymns of the season under the supervision of Barbara Curran, member of the board of the foundation.

In time to make their first choral visit, each of the groups left the church, heading to all parts of the town. Each group would make three visits per hour with a little time allowed between homes. The carolers relished the next three hours singing to and with friends, relatives, neighbors and strangers.

In addition to private homes, visits and carols were shared with residents at a local convalescent home and a senior citizens housing center. One group also performed at a Hartford restaurant which had contributed to the cause for the visit.

Though each group was equipped with a audio tape of musical accompaniment and a battery-powered portable stereo (boom box), most abandoned their use. Finding that the recordings were hindering their singing, most proceeded a cappella. No one missed the canned music. With a little experience, most groups condensed their songs and arranged their performances to make them even better.

In the vicinity of the Mitchell School Senior Citizen Housing complex, the Channel (3) TV reporter Susan Raff and her cameraman, caught up with one group, having missed the gathering at Corpus Christi. The reporter and crew stayed with this group, lead by Jerry Orfitelli and Norma Uricchio, for an hour visiting, interviewing and videotaping the carolers and carolees at three homes.

With a schedule to keep, the carolers did not have much time to chat and visit with the homeowners and their own friends. No one missed their evening meal though. Cookies and sometimes beverages were offered almost without exception at each stop. The carolers had time for just a few bites and off they flew to the next engagement.

Since the homeowners to be caroled knew when the carolers were to arrive, many of them had arranged a gathering of their own friends and families to share in the festivities and song. Carolers also found that that the generosity of the "audiences" was great. Beside cookies, checks and cash were many times given to group leaders who passed it on to the foundation officers later that evening. This was above and beyond the original donation for the carolers' visit and voices.

Fortunately, the weather cooperated. Though rain had been earlier forecasted, none occurred. The afternoon to evening was dry and eventually became seasonably cold. The sun set. Carolers now relied on their memories and an occasional street light, flashlight or porch light to see their music sheets.

As planned, all the groups came together to carol the Keane home and family on the Wethersfield Broad Street Green. There too, the TV station crew returned and went "live" to complete their report of Caroling for a Cause, the Keane Foundation and what this event meant to the participants and the town.

The Keane family then opened their home to the carolers, yes, all of them, and offered everyone hot cider and cookies. Family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances had a chance to warm up and become closer to each other in their dedication to turning a crushing tragedy to an opportunity for growth, individually and collectively.

Everyone agreed; "Caroling for a Cause" was such a wonder experience that it should become an annual event in Wethersfield.

Though all missed Mr. Keane, somehow it felt that he was there, enjoying it all and encouraging everyone onward.