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Fran Sindoni’s son Anthony came all the way from Los Angeles to Delaware County to celebrate his mother’s 75th birthday on March 22.
He told his mother, who used to live on the 900 block of South Cantrell Street, that he wanted to take her out for a nice lunch and then shopping.
But that was just a front, because Anthony and his three sisters had a far more unique celebration up their sleeves.
As Anthony, 36, pulled up to Trieste restaurant in Prospect Park with his mother next to him, they saw a trolley car parked out front.
Fran remarked that there was probably a wedding party inside that had rented the trolley.
Anthony told his mother he wanted to check out the trolley for himself, so he climbed aboard for a closer look.
Fran followed — and got the surprise of her life.
About 25 familiar faces of family and friends shouted out in unison: "Surprise! Happy Birthday!"
The 75-year-old said she would never forget that feeling when she stepped aboard the trolley.
"I see all these beautiful faces of girls I grew up with and girls on the same block [Cantrell]," Sindoni said. "These are people I keep in touch with but have not seen in years. It was just truly unbelievable. I couldn’t believe these faces and where [my children] found these people."
Anthony; Fran, 42; Kathy, 44; and Maria, 45, wanted to do something different for their mother’s 75th birthday, rather than mark the occasion with a party or big family dinner. So they decided to give their mom a trip down memory lane.
The siblings rounded up Sindoni’s school friends and Cantrell Street neighbors for a memorable trolley ride through their former stomping grounds.
Daughter Fran, who lives in Florida, as does Maria, got the idea for the excursion from their mother, who would always talk about the old South Philly neighborhood.
Sindoni, who now lives in Collingsdale, told her children to keep things "quiet" for her 75th birthday because she didn’t think there was any way they could top the party they threw for her 70th birthday.
The kids had combined Sindoni’s celebration with her brother’s 65th birthday/retirement party.
Sindoni recalled entering the party bearing a huge tray of homebaked cookies and pound cake — her brother’s favorite. When everyone yelled, "Surprise!" she quickly learned the party wasn’t just her brother’s.
"So that was wonderful. If nothing else, they’re creative," she said of her children. Sindoni added that she’s grateful her children honor her the way they do.
And they pulled out all the stops for their mother’s 75th birthday.
Fran and Kathy greeted everyone aboard the trolley dressed in vintage 1945 outfits and hairstyles. Soft pretzels and Coca-Cola were sold for a mere 5 cents — the same price as the good old days.
The trolley ride included a stop at all the schools Sindoni attended. Several of her Edward Bok High classmates were even on the trolley.
"That was so nostalgic. We went by my grammar school, junior high school and vocational school. It was a sharing of memories. I was just like in a daze all day," cooed Sindoni, who was born Fran Milanese.
When the trolley arrived at Cantrell Street, the partygoers got off and walked up the small block.
Sindoni, along with the other former residents of the block, rang a few doorbells and talked to some of the neighbors — many of whom were second- and third-generation Cantrell Streeters.
Betty DelPrato, 90, a trolley-party guest, discovered that the flower girl from her wedding still lived on the street.
"It was just so wonderful to see the grandchildren of the people we knew," Sindoni said. "Some of the houses were totally remodeled but they are still there. Some people never leave South Philly. In our [family’s] hearts, we’re still there. There is just something about downtown. Those are our roots."
One neighbor even opened her door and offered to make everyone coffee. Just like the old days, Sindoni noted.
"You no sooner got in the door than they put the coffee on and served you cake," she said.
Sindoni believes it’s a shame that the younger generation is missing out on those simpler, kinder times when everyone was friendly and looked out for one another. Of course, some believe that attitude still exists enough to make South Philly a distinctively close area.
The final stop of the day was back to Trieste for an early dinner.
For Sindoni, growing up on Cantrell Street was the highlight of her 75 years.
"I have a lot of fond memories of that little street — when there were no cars and children played in the street with the mothers watching over them. It was just a wonderful time of my life," she said.
And on that afternoon last month, Sindoni took a trip back in time, thanks to the children who wanted to throw their mother a party to top all others.
