Up In LIGHTS

A community puts on a dazzling display of support for a grieving family

- Rebecca Meiser

FOR SOME, HANGING Christmas decorations is yet another holiday chore. But for the Pascucci family, stringing lights and decorating the yard of their home in New York was always a time of celebration.

Starting in early November, Anthony Pascucci, the family patriarch, and his older sister, Connie, would visit local shops to check out new decorations and to dream up their vision for that year's extravaganza.

Anthony's son, Anthony Jr, and daughter, Sara, shared the home and they pitched in as well. Anthony Jr helped with the wiring, while Sara hung ornaments on the tree inside the house, playing "White Christmas" to keep everyone in the spirit.

In 2020, as in every other year, Anthony Sr strung colourful lights all around their roof until it looked as if sparkles were dripping onto the porch below. On the front lawn, he inflated a large snowman and a Rudolph with a glowing red nose. The place looked like a scene from a Christmas storybook.

Anthony Sr, 60, had outdone himself, as if the brightness of their lights could counter the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was just such a rough year that he tried his best to make it extra special," Sara says.

On Christmas Eve, the whole house twinkled with lights, and gifts were piled under the tree. Everyone was looking forward to spending Christmas Day together as a family.

Then Connie got a call. Someone she worked with had tested positive for COVID. Though Connie didn't have any symptoms, she decided to get tested right away. Her rapid test came back positive.

Anthony Sr, Anthony Jr, and Sara all tested positive too. Sadly, they agreed their Christmas celebration would have to be cancelled.

At first, everyone's symptoms seemed manageable. But right after the new year, on January 4, Anthony Sr started having trouble breathing. Anthony Jr took him to the hospital, where he was admitted.