Tombstone Tuesday - Salvatore and Congetta Nocito

Saint Francis Cemetery

Wakefield, Rhode Island

Salvatore "Sam" J. Nocito

b. November 24, 1912

d. October 25, 1975

Congetta "Connie" T. Faella

b. July 6, 1915

d. July 20, 1980

Uncle Sam and Aunt Connie were my husband's paternal aunt and uncle.  Congetta was one of the twelve children of Gaetano and Pasqualina Faella. Salvatore served in the Army during WWII.

Rest in Peace.

Treasure Chest Thursday - All Grown Up

Today my youngest, my son John, is 21 years old!  If he isn't a treasure I don't know what one is!!

I could hardly decide which picture to include here.  What fun to look through at all the fun times we have had! 

 

Happy Birthday John!

Sentimental Sunday - Wedding Cake Toppers

My husband is one of seven children, six of them married.  When the first of his siblings were being wed, his parents found the wedding cake topper that they had used on their wedding cake almost 25 years earlier.  J&F decided to use it on their cake.  Thus was born a wonderful tradition.  Next S&N were married and they too used the same topper for their cake.  My husband and I were married next, on June 14, 1980 - yes, 30 years ago this year!  Here we are!

Now this picture doesn't really show the kewpie doll wedding topper so here is a close-up.  (Not the best picture I have - I will try to find a better one and post it here).

Well, a few years later H&J were married and used the same topper followed by T&J.  Five family weddings with the same wedding cake topper!  And the same one that my husband's parents had used. A grand tradition we all enjoyed.

One day while watching some old slides from my husband's grandparents collection, the following picture popped onto the screen and the entire crew began laughing at once!

It is my in-laws, at their wedding on November 22, 1952.  It doesn't take much to see that the wedding cake topper is not the kewpie dolls.  Who had they originally belonged to?  Well, that question was never answered, but we all agreed that we still loved our kewpie doll topper tradition.  To include my in-laws, on their 50th wedding anniversary, where it was a PIE-anniversary, the kewpie dolls topped the anniversary pie.

Although the tradition began by accident, it is one that I am happy to be a part of.  All the marriages are going strong, including my in-laws who have now been married 57 years!  Soon the next generation of this family will be getting married.  I will encourage all I can to take part in this wonderful celebration of family!

Ain't families grand!  

Wordless Wednesday - Papa and his Grandson

My son John and his grandfather, World War II Veteran Antonio Faella

May 31, 2004

Memorial Day 2010 - Brothers in Service, World War II

This memorial day I would like to remember my husband's uncles and his father who all served in World War II.

Antonio, Vincenzo "Jack" and Sylvio Faella

Antonio is my husband's dad.  He was in the Navy, serving in the pacific aboard the submarine the USS Spearfish. He served from about May 1942 through December 1945.

The middle son is Jack, my husband's uncle.  He was the youngest of the three and as of this picture was not yet old enough to serve.  He served with the Navy on the destroyer the USS Tillman.  He was born April 9, 1926 and died March 3, 2003 and is buried at the Rhode Island Veteran's Cemetery.

Sylvio was the oldest Faella brother.  He served as a Chief Commissary Steward aboard the USS Wasp.  He was killed in action on March 19, 1945,  when at about 7:10 am, the aircraft carrier was hit by a bomb.  He was buried at sea.  He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service.  He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.  (His service records all have his last name as Faela)

On this memorial day, I want to thank not only the Faella men who served but also all who have defended our country through the years.  Special thanks go to those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

God Bless them one and all!