IN LOVING MEMORY OF CLAUDIA BAGLIERE (OCTOBER 18, 1921 – DECEMBER 7, 2015
On Monday, December 7, 2015, long-time AMHS member Claudia Bagliere passed away at the age of 94! Claudia, the mother of AMHS member Joann Novello, was born in Montemitro, province of Campobasso in the region of Molise. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 16. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John, and is survived by her daughter, Joann (Joseph) Novello, her four cherished grandchildren, Katherine Novello (Joshua Kandies), Stephanie (Jason) Caccamo, Laura (Marco) Fuggitti, and Peter John Novello.
In recent years, Claudia tremendously enjoyed being a loving great-grandmother to Jack and Claudia Kandies, Dominic and Vincent Caccamo, and Gianna and Liliana Fuggitti. May she rest in in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon her. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Claudia’s honor to the AMHS Grant and Scholarship Fund or the Hospice of the Chesapeake. The following tribute was written by Claudia’s granddaughter Stephanie, and was shared with family and friends who attended the memorial Mass for Claudia at Holy Rosary Church on Saturday, December 12:
My Grandmother When I think of a word to describe my grandmother, the word I think of is indomitable. She came to this country when she was 16. She seized the opportunity when her older sister decided to stay in Italy. She said yes when many others would have made the safe choice and said no. She left her mother, sister, and brother behind to go to half a world away with a father she did not know very well. Because she did not speak the language, she was put in school with children much younger than she and teased mercilessly. Some of her cousins in Pittsburgh were unkind because they were jealous of the lost attention from my great-grandfather.
She was physically struck down by a streetcar on Pittsburgh and she literally picked herself up, dusted herself off, and persevered. She left Pittsburgh and went to New Jersey to live with her uncle, where she met her husband, my grandfather John. She survived the Great Depression and World War II as an enemy alien in this country and with a husband fighting overseas. But my grandfather came home safe from the war, they had a daughter, my mother, Joann, and they built a life together in New Jersey through hard work and determination. Together, my grandmother and grandfather, an immigrant and first generation American, both with no more than an eighth grade education, scrimped and saved and sent my mother to college. They saw her continue onto graduate school and begin a career teaching college.
They saw her marry and welcomed three granddaughters, Katherine, myself, and Laura, whom they doted on and adored. When tragedy struck in 1984 and we lost my grandfather suddenly, my grandmother endured the unendurable. And with a true immigrant’s spirit, at the age of 66, she left family and friends in New Jersey to start fresh in Maryland to be closer to her daughter and granddaughters. Shortly thereafter, she greeted the birth of my brother, whom she always called Peter John, with great happiness. Over nearly 30 years, she built a life for herself in Maryland, focusing on friends and family and devoting her time to the handicrafts she so loved to make. She showed her love for others in the things she made with her hands.
Who here does not have one of her blankets, quilts, woodcarvings, or ceramics, to name just a few of the things she excelled at making – probably not many. And it was not just handicrafts, but food. Who could forget her homemade pasta, pizza, fried bows, pizzelle, spinach pie, or pizza rustica? The thought of the fried dough she made every Christmas Eve brings back a flood of wonderful memories. For so many years we were lucky to have her as a constant, vibrant, loving, and spirited presence in our lives. Over the years, she saw many family and friends pass out of her life, but she never let it get the better of her. She focused instead on the joy of watching her granddaughters marry and have families of their own, and welcoming six great-grandchildren: Jack, Dominic, Gianna, Claudia, Vincent, and Liliana. My grandmother, Claudia Bagliere, was one of the strongest women I know. She was truly indomitable and her legacy will live on in her daughter, her grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren she so loved.
LOOK AT THESE SPRITELY ELVES!
Our own Lucio and Edvige D’Andrea were once again invited by the Italian Cultural Society (ICS) to take part in the Society’s Festa di Natale on Sunday, December 15. (Lucio & Edvige have been members of ICS for over 55 years!). They assisted Babbo di Natale (Santa Claus) as “Folletti” (elves) in the distribution of gifts to the children. This year’s Festa was a very joyous occasion with over 100 members, guests and friends. LaBefana was also present for the occasion. As grandparents themselves, Lucio & Edvige are witness to the pure joy that children express when presented with gifts. (submitted by Lucio D’Andrea).
FINDING MY ROOTS IN VILLAVALLELONGA
This semester I am studying Classics and Latin at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome as part of a year abroad from the University of Rochester. Classics and Latin have been a lifelong passion of mine, and I've been able to fulfill them and more in Italy this semester. But I also came to Italy wanting to learn more about my own family's history in Italy. So, on one of our free weekends, I took the train to Avezzano in Abruzzo, and from there the bus to Villavallelonga.
Without a plan, I walked into the first convenience store I could find and asked the shopkeeper if there was anyone in town with the surname di Sarra. He pointed me in the direction of the town bar, where I could find the owner of the only operating hotel in town. After I settled into the hotel, I went to the only restaurant in town for dinner. The waitress and her husband, of course, asked why an American had come all this way to Villavallelonga, and I explained I was there to find di Sarras. It turned out the waitress' mother, the cook of the restaurant, was a di Sarra. I learned how small this town really was. The next day, November 14, was the town's Veterans Day celebration. Villavallelonga lost a lot of young men in WWI, including a great-uncle I never knew I had.
There was a shrine for every fallen soldier, still tended by their closest living relative. The one for my great-uncle was tended by my closest relatives in town, the only people still with the name di Sarra. I met my mom’s second cousin, Maria, and my third cousin, Antonio. They immediately took me in like we'd always known each other, and we shared pictures and stories. Then they treated me to a generous Sunday lunch that tasted exactly like my mom makes it, and then gave me a tour of the town and its surroundings. It was just like visiting family in Rochester when I was younger. And just like when I visit family now, they sent me off with leftovers, but also a new connection I never knew I had. (submitted by Adam Kadir, son of AMHS member Sue Tomasso)
MEMBER ON THE MOVE: OMERO SABATINI
AMHS Past President Omero Sabatini would like members and friends to know that he moved recently and should you wish or need to contact him, here is his new contact information: His Email address is omero.sabatini@verizon.net, his new phone number is (703) 658-3120, and his new address is 4002 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Omero has been in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for about a year now, and is still recovering from a long illness and a couple of broken bones (wrist and neck). I am sure he would like to hear from his AMHS friends. (submitted by Nancy DeSanti)