Another Side of Joel Randazzo Forjet 
Working 50+ hours a week at her business, Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffè, Joel Randazzo Forjet earns her rest—but she seldom takes it. “If I’m not busy doing something …” she begins to explain, breaking into a big smile and shrugging her shoulders.
“Joel’s always helping out somewhere,” interjects longtime-friend Rhonda Perez. “She’s not going to tell you all she’s done, but just ask me.” As Rhonda indicates, the list of Joel’s community activities is impressive. In 1992, as room captain at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette, Joel began her involvement in her children’s schools. It wasn’t long before she was VP of the parents’ club, then president.
In 2000, she was invited to serve on the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs, and she still participates today. Among her favorite activities is “Clothe a Child,” where she helps shop for clothing for needy children. The group aided 215 recipients last year.
With her youngest, Lauren, now at Archbishop Hannan High, Joel dedicates herself to co-chairing the annual auction—something she began in 2004, when son Felix III attended the school. With an annual goal of $50,000, she works tirelessly getting donations.
Perhaps the most important contribution Joel makes to the community, however, has to do with her fellow evacuees from St. Bernard. After losing homes, businesses and friends in Katrina, the close-knit group needed one another more than ever. Once Joel and husband Felix opened Nonna’s, former customers of Randazzo’s dropped by to visit and enjoy some almond macaroons and anise cookies. Soon one friend was telling another about this little piece of “da parish,” and it became THE place to go to meet long-lost friends and swap stories of life since Katrina.
Joel loves seeing the old gang—and making new friends, too. Between them and 21/2- year-old grandson Felix IV (who loves to munch cookies and hunt lizards behind the shop), they’re her favorite stress relievers. After all, when you’re Nonna, it’s all about serving great food, sharing love and making people feel at home.
