Anne Butera, mother of Ken, turned 100 on December 18, 2000. She is the mother of eight, grandmother of 26 (one deceased), and great grandmother of 22. Sons Bob and John are also lawyers; Bob is the CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, and John practices in Wayne, PA, with his wife, Jean.
Members of the family, who reside as far west as San Francisco and as far south as Atlanta, held a reunion/early birthday party in June over a three-day weekend. With spouses, significant others, and close friends more than 80 attended.
Mrs. Butera (“Annie” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren) was married for 67 years to Harry, who died at 95 in 1993. She still resides in the house they built in Jeffersonville in 1941. It was a raucous household with eight lively kids whose childhood memories inevitably include her extraordinary cooking and gardens.
At a birthday party on her actual birthday, she held court, rendering sage advice and reciting her favorite poetry. In South Philadelphia the favored birthday greeting is “Cent’ Anni!” (good health for another 100 years!) In this case that would be 200!
– Ken Butera