07/13/2003

Joyce Susi and Marc Marandola

The Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, Providence

5.17.03

"My daughter met her fiancé at St. Rocco's Feast in Johnston back in 1990," says Mary Ann Susi, mother of the bride. Joyce Susi was 13 years old.

"A bunch of us mothers were talking when this cute young boy came up to his mother in somewhat of a panic, asking for pen and paper. The kids were off playing and I had just been introduced to Cheryl Marandola. She rummaged through her pocketbook, asking her son Marc, 'What's the hurry?' 'I need to get a girl's phone number!' said Marc. 'That cute girl standing over there -- her name is Joyce.' "

Marc called Joyce daily, even though Joyce's older brother, Frankie, made his usual threats to ward off all boys who called for his little sister. He would say:"There's no one here by that name" or "Don't call anymore or I'll come after you!"

One day, Joyce invited a group of friends over for a game of Monopoly. And yes, Marc was included. When Frankie heard, he said "I can't wait to see this kid -- he's got a lot of guts coming over here after I told him to never call again!"

Frankie was very tall, over 6 feet at the time, and Marc was very small. "Even now, fully grown, Marc is 5'8" at best," says Joyce's mother. "So when Frankie saw this short thin boy, the brazen gutsy kid, he was shocked. 'You're the kid with all the guts?' Marc, with a quiver in his voice, said 'Yeah,' and extended his hand."

It marked the beginning of a wonderful friendship, a friendship that lasted for years, until Frankie's death on June 14, 2001. He was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Marc proposed to Joyce in January, 2002. He took her to New York City, under the pretext of taking her to a Broadway show -- The Lion King -- for her birthday. The night before the show, on a horse and buggy ride through Central Park, he proposed to her.

Today, their marriage has been blessed by the Pope. There is a framed certificate on an easel at the altar, bearing the Pope's photo. "I know a priest from Rhode Island who now works at the Vatican," says Mary Ann.

Father Giacomo Capoverdi is the celebrant. He used to babysit for Marc and his best-man/older brother Eddie. Capoverdi's sister was married to their uncle.

Says Capoverdi: "It all began at the feast of St. Rocco when Marc was 13. I remember him telling me 'This is the girl I'm going to marry.' What began at St. Rocco's does not end here, but rather offers a new beginning.

"And hey, what about this weather. Rain was predicted, but the Blessed Mother had other plans, and the family asked intercessory prayers."

Earlier, at the Susi home, the groom's father attributed the break in the chain of rainy weekends to his having gone to confession the night before; in fact, the entire Marandola family went. Mary Ann Susi attributed it to the rosary she took from her son's grave and hung on a tree in their yard all week. And Father Capoverdi, well, he says, "Remember, Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding feast."