DAUGHTER, MOTHER, FRIEND

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Josephine, 14 years old 3 YES! I WANT TO GO TO AMERICA
afraid?” she asks. At 70, her thick dark hair, pretty smile and flawless skin make her look more like someone in her early 60s. She knew she was headed for a better life, and she would make a way for her family to one day join her in the land of opportunity. Sending a teenager all alone on a boat to America wasn’t all that much of an outof-the-ordinary thing to do. The family had roots in the new country because her father was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was a U.S. citizen. He returned to Sicily when he was only two years old; Italy was the only life he ever knew but he dreamed of a better one for his family. Since Joseph voted in an Italian election, he lost his U.S. citizenship, but was able to transfer it to his first born, and as a result, Josephine already had U.S. citizenship before coming to America. Joseph, for whom Josephine was named, knew one thing for sure – he wanted his family to grow up in the United States. Working on the farm in Sicily was bucolic and busy, but Joseph yearned for a better life for his wife and five children. As the oldest, Josephine would execute the emigration plan, which initially called for her family to join her in six months. So with two dresses, a set of underwear, and the shoes she was wearing, Josephine packed a small suitcase and was put on the boat to America. Her destination? New York City, where she would live with her paternal grandfather’s sister Rose Nocilla, who owned a house in Elmont, New York. Josephine remembers the excitement she felt when the boat, the Vulcania, docked in New York City on the morning of Christmas Eve in 1955. By then, she had turned 15 years old. Cousin Pauline, Rose’s youngest daughter, was the first to approach Josephine and asked if she was Giuseppa Cottone. To which, she replied, “Si.” Pauline then summoned the rest of the Nocella family to greet their second-generation niece and cousin. JOSEPHINE . . . DAUGHTER, MOTHER, FRIEND 4
Page 1 and 2: J osephine… DAUGHTER, MOTHER, FRI
Page 3 and 4: osephine… JDAUGHTER, MOTHER, FRIE
Page 5 and 6: This book is dedicated to Josephine
Page 7: CHAPTER 1: YES! I WANT TO GO TO AME
Page 11 and 12: With her cousins Frank, Mary, and P
Page 13 and 14: Times were different then, especial
Page 15 and 16: She was concerned with her family
Page 17 and 18: All her hard work and money saved f
Page 19 and 20: Chapter Two: A LIFE OF HER OWN Jose
Page 21 and 22: Once again, her responsibility to h
Page 23 and 24: Already having the intention of get
Page 25 and 26: eautiful home, picturesque neighbor
Page 27 and 28: CHAPTER 3: THE LATER YEARS While it
Page 29 and 30: With much pride, Josephine enjoys k
Page 31 and 32: Wedding Day, April 15, 1967, with s
Page 33 and 34: Josephine & Claudia JOSEPHINE . . .
Page 35 and 36: Family life in Franklin Square, 197
Page 37 and 38: Camille modeling a dress made by Jo
Page 39 and 40: Anna & Josephine The Nocella Family
Page 41 and 42: Maria, Josephine & Johanna with gra
Page 43 and 44: Renovations with brother-in-law Ral
Page 45 and 46: Celebrating four birthdays in four
Page 47 and 48: Josephine and Uncle Charlie in 1965
Page 49 and 50: Trip to Italy with Sal Visiting Sic
Page 51 and 52: Josephine with sister, Lilla Trip t
Page 53 and 54: Josephine in Rome Fontana di Trevi
Page 55 and 56: To My Mother, who has a heart of go
Page 57 and 58: JOSEPHINE . . . DAUGHTER, MOTHER, F
Page 59 and 60:
JOSEPHINE . . . DAUGHTER, MOTHER, F
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JOSEPHINE . . . DAUGHTER, MOTHER, F
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DAUGHTER, MOTHER, FRIEND

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