Filomena D’Agostino (née Bueti) recently celebrated the very special milestone of turning 100 years old.
Mrs D’Agostino celebrated her birthday at the Italo-Australian Club, Casadio Park, surrounded by around 140 family members and friends, which included her children Angela Morello, Joe D’Agostino and Tony D’Agostino with their spouses Tony, Mena and Marj, her six grandchildren with their partners and four great grandchildren.
Relatives travelled from near and far to attend the celebration, including Italy, Paris, Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland, New South Wales and Mount Gambier.
Mrs D’Agostino was born in April 1923 in Scilla, Prov. Reggio Calabria, Italy, to parents Antonino Bueti and Mariangela Carbone.
She lived in Melia, Italy, until May 1959 before arriving in Australia with her two children, Angela and Joe, to join her husband Angelo and brothers Giuseppe and Giovanni along with cousins and other relatives already living in Mount Gambier.
“It was probably 10 years after the war ended that people started to leave Italy and the Australian Government was at the time offering opportunities to immigrants to come to countries where there was going to be work opportunities for them,” Tony said.
The whole family lived with Giuseppe, his wife Fortunata and their children, Angelo and John Bueti, before moving into a home on North Terrace West, now Jubilee Highway West.
If Italians and family members moving to Mount Gambier needed somewhere to settle temporarily, they were welcomed into the D’Agostino home with open arms.
“It was like a little motel really,” Angela said.
“Whatever they had they shared with us and whatever we had we shared with them.
“Having people staying with us probably contributed to mum remaining a joyful person because she has always loved having people around her and that is something she now misses as she is in a nursing home now and she does miss that daily contact with people she used to know and speak her language.”
Mrs D’Agostino loved to cook, with her ‘veal scallopini’ a family favourite and Mr D’Agostino maintained an abundant garden of vegetables, fruits and herbs which she used in her cooking.
“With time, we as kids came to understand that throughout our parents doing all of this, our lives were enriched with a multitude of people and, really, magnificent people,” Joe said.
“Mum and Dad’s generosity really enriched our lives because it exposed us to all these people and a lot of them still keep in touch.
“Growing up, I do not think there was a weekend that we were not with another family or cousin having meals together, we were never really alone, we were always with other people.”
Mrs D’Agostino was also a very talented seamstress, sewing garments for her family and friends and embroidering on linen, tablecloths, tea towels, initialled handkerchiefs and doilies.
The siblings said their mother is a genuine lover of people who has always put others first and is renowned for her generosity.
“Nobody has ever said a bad word about her, but that is because she never said a bad word about anyone, she always sees the positive and the good side in people and she wanted us to always be like that too,” Tony said.
“She would rather not eat but make sure you have eaten, right until this day she will be eating at Boandik and if the lady next to her has not been eating she will try to feed them.”
People also shared their favourite memories of the centenarian at her 100th birthday celebrations.
“Guests remembered her love of food, coming to our house and having a table full of food, her generosity in spirit but also in food and other things; there was lots of gratitude towards her from everyone,” Angela said.
“She is very well-known because she has always opened her heart and her home to everyone she met.”
Mrs D’Agostino also loves dancing, which still proves to be an enjoyable past time as she danced Italian folk dance the ‘tarantella’ at her 100th birthday.
Mrs D’Agostino said on the night she “felt like a queen” when she entered her party and noted all the flowers, cards and messages she received from invited guests who were unable to attend.
Mrs D’Agostino received birthday certificates from significant figures around the world, including the Pope, the King, Australian Prime Minister, the Governor General, South Australian Governor, South Australian Premier, SA Liberal Leader, Member for Barker Tony Pasin, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, the Mayor of her home town and first cousins from the prov. di Reggio Calabria.
During her lifetime, she has lived through World War II, famine, earthquakes, eight Popes, 50 Italian Prime Ministers and 18 Australian Prime Ministers.
Mrs D’Agostino was the second 100th birthday in her family, with her mother also reaching the significant milestone and said her secret to living a long life was having a glass of wine each day.
“Her lifestyle must also have a lot to do with it, with wholesome foods, good family, good people around you, friends and relatives and a community to keep the social side of life active,” Angela said.
The siblings and their partners thank everyone who has been a part of Mrs D’Agostino’s life, especially her extended family, all doctors, staff and carers at Boandik, the Ascot and Rainbow Clubs, her former GP Dr Peter Charlton and other Health Care Services.
