Christmas labor of love: Ellwood family decorate whole house
ELLWOOD CITY ― Don and Jackie Melfi's two-story brick home at 308 Patricia Drive is decorated inside and out. It is a labor of love for their friends and family.
They celebrate the Christmas season with time-honored decorations that are filled with memories of Christmas past.
"If it's not moving, we decorate it," Jackie said recently.
The theme is a traditional old-fashioned Christmas with multi-colored lights and much-loved ornaments and decorations. They keep them up until Jan. 6 each year.
"It's all precious to me. Many of the items come with memories. Many years ago I bought a caroler figurine and now I have a lot of carolers on my mantle," Jackie said.
For over 40 years they have hosted a Christmas party for their friends who enjoy being surrounded by Christmas.
There is the very traditional Christmas tree and a small tree with ornaments their children made when they were in school.
They remove all the pictures from the walls and replace them with Christmas pictures and art.
Before Thanksgiving, the Melfis begin with Don decorating the family room and Jackie the kitchen and living room. Don also decorates the outside of the house including the porch with the traditional Christmas decorations. Don's use of insulators with lights behind them makes a stunning display that gets a lot of attention. Don's father had collected them and Jackie said they had bushels of them.
Decorating was minimal at Jackie's family home, but when she started dating Don and saw his family home in Wampum she was hooked on decorating. Don's parents, Ralph and Philomena Melfi, celebrated the season with lavish decorating.
"It was beautiful. Their home was like Grand Central Station and I loved it," Jackie said.
When Don and Jackie got married 55 years ago they started decorating and they now have it down to a science.
"Of course, we started with a few decorations but added to it every year," Jackie said.
Jackie went to garage sales and rummage sales and bought beautiful decorations and her collection quickly grew.
"It seemed when a family member died no one wanted the old decorations. I was happy to get them," she said.
To be sure everything is in the right place Don has pictures of the decorating so he knows where each piece goes.
He packs them in bins that are marked for each room and stores the bins on shelves in the garage.
"With my system, I have it down pat. No problem putting it up or taking it down. It will be all ready for next year," Don said.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ellwood City family have decorated home for decades of Christmas
