Renovo’s Redis Girls Cherish Decades of Flaming Foliage Festival Memories, Honoring 75th Anniversary Amid End of an Era
From Staff Reports
As the residents of Renovo have recently found themselves recalling memories of past Flaming Foliage Festivals with the milestone 75th anniversary Weekend approaching, so too are natives of the area, many of whom make the trip back to the area every second weekend of October.
The “Redis Girls from South Renovo” are one such group that have combined Flaming Foliage and homecomings into their trips back to Renovo each October through the years.
Mary (Redis) Gregory said that she and her sisters have enjoyed front row seats and have watched the parade at their favorite spot going back to the 1970’s. That prime spot just next to the red lights on Huron Avenue was made available to them by the kindness of Edith Fantaskey of Renovo.
Not only were the Redis girls welcomed to the unbeatable seats, but a blanket covered glider and chairs sat at the ready for the out-of-town guests.
“Edith is a graceful, sweet lady who was kind enough to let us Redis girls enjoy the use of her porch for 30-40 years” Mary explained of their first class treatment. “We can’t praise her enough for her hospitality and are just so appreciative for everything that she did for us”.
“She never complained no matter how many of us showed up,” Gregory continued. “We were able to figure out that Edith loved popcorn and powdered funnel cakes, so we always walked to the craft show across the street to be sure she always enjoyed her favorite treats of the weekend”.
A staple of Renovo and a well-known devout Catholic Church parishioner at St. Joseph’s on 9th Street, Edith’s age forced her to move and sell her home. Although the Redis Girls will continue their homecoming trips to Renovo each October as their health allows, Bette, Marge, Alice, Jeanne, Mary and Susan Kay will never quite receive the hospitality again that was given to them for as long as any of them can remember.
“I hope to make it, my family doesn’t let me drive anymore, but I’m working on it,” Mary said from her home in Ohio. “I’m not sure where I would sit and watch the parade though, Edith spoiled us for sure”.
