Community News
Serena Caldieraro: Heritage Health Spotlight
A Benld native who is proud of her hometown and a friendly person who speaks to everyone at Heritage Health is just the material we are looking for when choosing a resident spotlight. Serena Caldieraro fills the shoe for that. The 88 year old youngster was born in Benld, Illinois in 1924 and was the youngest of three children.
Being the youngest in the family, Serena had no trouble keeping up with her two older brothers. They used to play outside all day long until she was old enough to start school. “Back when Benld had a school,” she added. She attended kindergarten through high school right in her hometown. Serena liked school, she liked geography. But, it will be a different story if you bring up math and arithmetic.
Playing ball in the street was very popular. “Ha, we did not do much of nothing,” she noted as the grin in her face told a different story. She had plenty of friends to keep her occupied and hopefully, out of trouble. Many taverns surrounded her house, but she never “stepped foot” in any of those until she was allowed. Ask her, she will tell you herself.
Her mother and father were both around quite often when she was growing up. Her mother stayed at home and worked around the house, cooked, cleaned, and millions of other things while her father worked at the mine. Number 3 mine in Mt. Clare to be specific. “It was work and that was a job back in those days.”
Serena loved her town and loved being out in the community. Although her love will never die for the town, she said the town is “dead, absolutely dead.” Back when she was growing up, it was much livelier she said. There were a lot of taverns, there was the coliseum, and there was Fazio’s Steakhouse (which was Serena’s favorite).
Zibby’s Tavern was directly across the street of her house as she explained. Many people patronized that bar and every other bar, for that fact. “It was a small town and everyone was involved,” she explained. Many local residents owned businesses. In fact, it was Tarro’s Market where Serena got her first job.
She started working there a little after she graduated. Little did she know, she would last nearly 22 years. Working at the store was right up her alley. She got to visit with and see many familiar faces doing a job she loved. Everything from checking people out to stocking shelves, Serena was the woman for the job.
After a few years of being single and working, that changed. Serena got married when she was young to a hunk from Staunton. The lucky fellow was Leno Caldieraro. It is kind of a weird story how they met, but Serena did not hold back. “He was following girls!”
No, he was not stalking them. He just followed a few girls to Serena’s house and it was there when they met. Some call it love at first site, but Serena just called it being happy. Apparently, the girls were just meeting at her house to go out for the evening. “I had no parties at my house! No, no, no,” she hollered.
When they went out on the town, taverns would have been the place to find them. “I had one right across the street from me for Pete’s sake.” They would go out and go to a few different taverns and then call it a night. Don’t ask her where though.
She also loved to go out to eat and the dance hall at the Coliseum. “I learned to skate at the Coliseum,” she added. Luckily, Leno liked to go out to eat as well because Serena did not like to cook.
The pair lived with Serena’s mother in Benld because, as she explained, she was a widow. Her mother would cook tasteful meals for them, she recalled. That was her favorite part and one of the things she missed when her mom passed. When her mother passed, Serena and Leno went out to eat. “We went out to eat a lot,” she laughed.
Serena did not like to cook after working all day and it was easier for Leno to just go out to eat. After Leno would work on the railroad all day, he was really hungry. “I was not about to come home and cook after working,” she explained. One of their favorite places to eat was Fazio’s. “It was very good!”
Leno and Serena never had any kids together, but they liked it that way. The two traveled every once in a while, she explained. California was one of their favorite places to go to because her brother lived out there. “It was very nice!”
Religion was never a problem for the two. “We both went, we are Catholic.” Serena said it was nice because Leno liked to go to church so she never had to force him to do anything. “We both went all the time,” she added. Outside of going to church, eating out, and visiting California, the two liked to rollerblade every once in a while.
Serena looks forward to seeing her niece every week. Cathy comes down and takes her out to dinner once a week. Toni’s Restaurant is one of her favorites, but she also likes to go to Carlinville and Staunton every once in a while.
Now at 88, Serena happily calls Heritage Health her home. She has been there about three years after selling her house, car, and everything else. “This is my home.” The help is very nice, the meals are good, and Ronnie is nice. Ronnie Pintar is Serena’s roommate. “We get along most of the time,” she laughed. Bingo is the game to play at Heritage Health as Serena said she never wins. Although, she could not come up with an excuse to explain all the Beanie Babies in her room.
“I cannot complain, it is great here.” What if everyone had the same mindset as Serena? It would definitely be a more amusing, friendly world. That is for sure.
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2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
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The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
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The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
