Giuseppe's Stories

  Giuseppe Stories # 11 - Boomers, ‘Burbs, and Goodbyes                          Giuseppe Stories #11: Boomers, 'Burbs, and Goodbyes George and Gloria married as the war ended. Note that George was still required to be in uniform.  Rose and Sam would also join the ranks of newlyweds. On ‘Pucci Street there were two or three weddings every Saturday. The neighborhood kids were in attendance outside the Church for every one of them!  Why? Because of the excitement and because the wedding guests would often toss coins or candy at the happy couple as they left the church. In the photo above, you can see the children in Camden, NJ doing exactly the same thing.                            George and Gloria             Years later-...

  Giuseppe Stories #10 - The War Years, 1942 - 1945 Cousin Rita wrote of her childhood sense of security on ‘Pucci Street. She is pictured here holding her cat. Her brothers, Eugene and Joseph (back row left side), joined the armed forces to preserve that security. But first, let’s review Rita’s own words, written in 2021. “As a child playing in these very streets, I was identified as belonging to the “C” family…I felt I belonged to this neighborhood. I felt safe and loved. I could run across the street from (school) to Aunt Jenny’s or Aunt Theresa’s warm embrace…Grandpa and Grandma were downstairs with Uncle George and Aunt Gloria. Uncle Dom and Aunt Marie were two doors away, with Uncle Vito and Aunt Ceil upstairs. Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary…only 2 blocks away. (This area) gave me what a child needs–a playground where I felt safe…”   Unfortunately, my earliest experience on ‘Pucci was anything but safe. When my parents brought me home from the hospital right before Christm...