Mary Lapponese has always loved Halloween. When her two grown daughters were kids, she threw them elaborate Halloween parties. Now, she decks the halls of her and husband Ken's gorgeous, Tuscan-style home in Weldon Spring, and hosts an annual grownup Halloween brunch for friends.

A silver, green and black witch banner covering the front door is the first hint of what lies inside the home's elegant entryway. At the foot of the sweeping staircase, a huge ornate mirror leans against the wall, and a small, black cat appears spooked by his own reflection. A broomstick holding a witch's hat leans against the mirror, a pair of orange and purple shoes sit at its base and a pair of long, black gloves rest atop a small wood table next to a pumpkin declaring, "The Witch is In."

"It all started with the witches," explains Mary, showing off her collection. Whimsical stuffed and porcelain witches of varying shapes and sizes, dressed in bright, fantastic costumes adorn every tabletop, shelf, counter and mantle. "I have one for each of my girlfriends," she says. "And they all know which witch they are." All of her witches, she notes, are happy, rather than scary.

In the corner of the expansive dining room, Mary has her "Halloween Tree." Each year, she puts up her Christmas tree early and decorates it for Halloween with witches' hats, fall leaves, orange streamers and lights. Once Halloween is over, she leaves the lights on through Thanksgiving and then decorates it for Christmas. The same goes for the banisters of the entry staircase, which are adorned with holiday garlands covered with witches, Halloween ribbons and lights.

For the Halloween brunch she hosts for her friends she grew up with on the Hill, Mary sets the dining room's long table with a black and orange checked tablecloth, orange placemats with black cats and black napkins folded like witches' hats. She ties sheer black fabric with a spider web pattern around each chair back for a touch of Halloween sophistication.

Mary makes all of her luncheon fare from scratch, including French onion soup, apple Waldorf salad, pumpkin bread and biscotti and orange scone cookies. She even concocts a special "Love Potion" punch of apple cider, lemon, orange and cranberry juices, Chianti, cloves and cinnamon.

While children's Halloween parties focus on trick or treating and haunted houses, the Lapponeses' annual Halloween brunch takes on a deeper meaning. "We celebrate All Souls Day," she says. "Honoring those we have lost."

Principally a Catholic holiday, All Souls Day commemorates the faithful departed and follows All Saints Day, the eve of which is Halloween. The Lapponeses and their friends take time to remember and pray for those they loved who have passed on.

This is not something Mary takes lightly, as she herself is lucky to be alive. In 1993, she survived a head-on collision with a drunken driver who was killed instantly. After being cut from her car, airlifted from the scene and declared dead on arrival to the hospital, she was revived. Today, the full-of-life Mary shows only faint scars on her left arm where it was stitched back together after being nearly torn off in the accident.

Feeling so fortunate to have a second chance to be with her loving family and friends, Mary loves to share her passion for cooking and entertaining. And although thankful for every moment, she tries to not take life too seriously — and always embraces her inner witch.