MEET THE LAVERY FAMILY: Gratefully Spending Thanksgiving Day Together

If you walk into Rich and Mary Lavery’s home any given year on Thanksgiving Day, you will find a whole lot more than just a great meal on the table. You will witness overflowing joy, the beauty of family being together, and the peace that comes from grateful hearts.

“The really nice thing about our Thanksgiving celebration is that it is an opportunity to spend time with all of our family members, without any other overriding purpose to the day,” Mary says. “We get together often for birthdays, major holidays, weddings, baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, and graduations. Thanksgiving does not bring with it the expectation of gift-giving or receiving, or even focusing on one particular person whom we are celebrating. While those things are important and provide wonderful family traditions, Thanksgiving is just a wonderful day to celebrate our entire family and the blessing of each individual within it.”

For the entire Lavery family, celebrating Thanksgiving together is a tradition that goes way back – something that has carried across several generations.

“Throughout the years, we have always had a big family Thanksgiving celebration, and the tradition continues today as we gather in my mother and father’s home,” says Maria Mast. “When we all get together, my husband, Matthew, and I are there with our three children — Elena, William, and Richie — and my two brothers and sister are also there with their families. There is even one great-grandchild there as well! I hope that the tradition continues in my children’s lives as well, long after I am gone.”

Each year, the family’s celebration starts a little before Thanksgiving Day.

The Rich and Mary Lavery family

Cousins, all together on a special day

“My mother enjoys having her grandchildren help her create table decorations, name cards, special napkins, or placemats for Thanksgiving,” Maria says. “It gives them a great opportunity to spend time with her, and it is something they look forward to.”

The Lavery family’s Thanksgiving usually includes a mid-day meal, along with a few special traditions that help them focus on gratitude for faith, fellowship, and family.

“We love being together as a large group, and ‘the more, the merrier’ has always been our motto,” Maria says. “We purposely have the meal around 11:30 a.m. so we have time to spend together. It also allows for some of us to go to a different meal in the evening with other sides of our families if we need to. We pray at the beginning of the meal, and then we each share something significant in our lives that we are thankful for. We understand that being grateful for all of our blessings in our lives is the real reason for Thanksgiving.”

Each person takes a part in providing and preparing the meal, which makes the day more enjoyable for everyone.

Last but certainly not least, the family savors a deeply meaningful tradition of taking family photos each Thanksgiving.

“We love to take family photos, such as in the yard, featuring re-enactments or pictures of all the cousins together, etc.,” Maria says. “ My mom puts the pictures up so we can see the changes from year to year. This tradition shows the importance of prioritizing your family and spending time with them. Ultimately, your family is meant to be with you through thick and thin, and love you unconditionally.”

Place cards created by the grandchildren

Enjoying a favorite dessert

The Lavery siblings, then and now

The Lavery siblings, then and now

Sharing in family time