Neighborhood parade celebrates 99th birthday of Columbus-born matriarch

Friends, family and community members waved, cheered and danced in a drive-by parade to celebrate the 99th birthday of Dolores Bangas, the matriarch to a Columbus family of over 110 members, Thursday, April 2.

Bangas gasped, clapped and hugged as the parade, featuring a Columbus Police Department patrol unit, bikes, cars, trucks with trailers and more, drove past her viewing spot under the home’s carport. Dolores Bangas’ daughter Ramona Bangas organized the parade followed by a short celebration with cake attended by almost three dozen.

“Everybody just loves her,” Ramona said. “…It makes me feel good because some people get forgotten. And somebody, they see me, somebody’s gonna ask me, how’s your mom?”