If you were a customer at one of Chrissy Aiello's tables at the former Bolan's Restaurant in East Liberty, you were more than a customer -- you were considered a friend.
"I can still remember an elderly couple who my mother waited on for years," said David Aiello Jr. "When they were housebound and could no longer dine at the restaurant, my mother would visit with them and bring her own home cooking."
Christina R. Dahma Aiello, of Monroeville, formerly of Turtle Creek, died on Thursday, March 22, 2007, at ManorCare, Monroeville. She was 88.
The Bolanis family owned the restaurant where Mrs. Aiello worked for 30 years. Elaine Bolanis said she lost track of the times customers requested to be seated at one of Chrissy Aiello's tables.
"Chrissy had quite a following," said Bolanis. "She was efficient at what she did. She also had a pleasant personality that her customers enjoyed. She was also well liked by the people she worked with.
"It was often difficult trying to fulfill the requests to be seated at one of Chrissy's tables. The doctors had their own table at Chrissy's station at lunch, as did several of the businessmen.
"My husband Bill knew that if a waitress who was scheduled to come in later in the day called to say that she couldn't make it, he could depend on Chrissy to stay and help with the evening rush," added Bolanis.
"When an employee stays as long as Chrissy did, you get to know her family. We enjoyed getting to know her husband and her children."
David Aiello recalled how he would often drop in the restaurant after school and wait for his mother to finish her shift.
"If she was real busy, I'd help her by busing her tables. Her customers would talk to me and tell me how much they liked having my mother as their waitress."
Born and raised in Saltsburg, Indiana County, Christina Dahma was one of four children in the family of Elias and Marion Dahma. Prior to opening a dry goods store in Saltsburg, her father sold dry goods from door to door.
"While Mom was attending high school, she'd often help out in my grandfather's store in Saltsburg. It was there that she gained the experience of waiting on customers," said her son.
Prior to meeting and marrying David Aiello Sr. in 1940, Mrs. Aiello was employed as a waitress at Locante's Restaurant on West Liberty Avenue.
"Following their marriage, my parents first made their home in the Hill District and then in Shadyside, where my sister and I were raised," Aiello added. "Eventually they moved to Turtle Creek when Dad went to work for Westinghouse during World War II.
"My Dad also worked as a bartender. He had the opportunity to join Westinghouse and work on certain segments of the Manhattan Project," Aiello added.
"My mother was an excellent cook," said Aiello. "And even if she was on her feet all day, she'd be home in time to prepare dinner for us. She was always there for my sister, Sylvia, and me."
Mrs. Aiello liked to read and work with ceramics.
"And of course, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren," said David Aiello
Mrs. Aiello is survived by her son, David Aiello Jr., of Plum; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Aiello Sr., and her daughter, Sylvia Perry.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home, Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel, 1111 Monroeville Ave., Turtle Creek. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John Fisher Church, Churchill.
