This is a site for the descendants of Masimo and Gelsomina Piacentini to log family history and keep up with each other. There are no "Rules".
This site is built following the August 10, 2008 Piacentini Family picnic at Szot Park, Chicopee, MA, at the suggestion of several family members.
Since this is the first posting, I'll tell what I know (and you can infer what I don't know!...) about family history and then later post a little about my family. Please add to the history and add your own stories and pictures. Much of the details that follow were researched by my cousin, Carol Piacentini:
Gelsumina Bertolucci (my Nonni) was born on May 10, 1891 in a small town near Luca, Italy. She came to the United States in 1909 when she was 18 years old and moved to Springfield, Ma, where an older brother had already settled. Gelsumina initially spoke no English and had no formal education. She supported herself by working in a rag factory. Though Gelsumina never had any formal education, though she taught herself to speak and read English, and anyone who ever played pitch with her knew she had a quick intelligence. I can attest to that!
Masimo was born in Italy (the late 1880's?) near Pisa. He came through Ellis Island just a few months later, and also chose to live in Springfield. Gelsumina met Masimo through the Augusiti's, a family that boarded many young Italian immigrants in their house on Congress St. in Springfield. They were married on 1910 after a short courtship. First lived in an "affordable" tenement in the Italian North End of Springfield.
The had a long and fruitful marriage, blessed by 8 children: Claude d'Noro (Nod) born in 1911., Colombo (Clum) in 1912, Guido (Jack) in 1914, Louisa in 1916, Rose in 1918, Enis in 1920, Sattimo in 1923 and Mary in 1926.
This site is built following the August 10, 2008 Piacentini Family picnic at Szot Park, Chicopee, MA, at the suggestion of several family members.
Since this is the first posting, I'll tell what I know (and you can infer what I don't know!...) about family history and then later post a little about my family. Please add to the history and add your own stories and pictures. Much of the details that follow were researched by my cousin, Carol Piacentini:
Gelsumina Bertolucci (my Nonni) was born on May 10, 1891 in a small town near Luca, Italy. She came to the United States in 1909 when she was 18 years old and moved to Springfield, Ma, where an older brother had already settled. Gelsumina initially spoke no English and had no formal education. She supported herself by working in a rag factory. Though Gelsumina never had any formal education, though she taught herself to speak and read English, and anyone who ever played pitch with her knew she had a quick intelligence. I can attest to that!
Masimo was born in Italy (the late 1880's?) near Pisa. He came through Ellis Island just a few months later, and also chose to live in Springfield. Gelsumina met Masimo through the Augusiti's, a family that boarded many young Italian immigrants in their house on Congress St. in Springfield. They were married on 1910 after a short courtship. First lived in an "affordable" tenement in the Italian North End of Springfield.
The had a long and fruitful marriage, blessed by 8 children: Claude d'Noro (Nod) born in 1911., Colombo (Clum) in 1912, Guido (Jack) in 1914, Louisa in 1916, Rose in 1918, Enis in 1920, Sattimo in 1923 and Mary in 1926.
Masimo died in 1954 (just before I was born) after a courageous fight with stomach cancer. Gelsumina died 1975 at age 84 of heart failure.
My memories of Gelsumina were around her Sunday visits to our house in Feeding Hills, with card games and chocolate kisses, and the wonderful family gatherings at her "beehive" apartment on Liberty Street. I'd love to hear others fill in the stories of family life in the '20's, '30's, and 40's. I heard stories of my Nonni selling a little home made vino out of her pantry during prohibition (good profits!), and my grandfather's assimilation into the American culture.
-Ed Faits 8/10/2008
2 comments:
Anyone know if it's spelled Gelsomina or Gelsumina... I've seen it both ways.
In Massimo's obituary and in the social security death index, she's listed as Gelsumina. On their marriage cert, it's Gelsomina, but, then again, he's listed as Massinio there, so I wouldn't go by that...
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