Prompt #3 FAVORITE PHOTO January
15, 2024
Who is that elegant woman walking down the boardwalk in
Atlantic City? It’s clear everyone wants to know. Look at them all turning to
look at her! She walks with dignity and grace. People can’t even get close to
her because she’s so special. She wears a wide brimmed hat to shade her from
the hot sun which protects her silky-smooth skin. Her white gloves scrunched
down to her wrists for a fashionable statement. A string of pearls encircles
her neck. A simple dress for a daytime stroll, with hose and heels.
Who took this photo? The photographer blurred the
boardwalk’s throng into a haze leaving only this lovely lady to be the star. Is she a celebrity, a socialite, a wealthy
individual or even someone of royal descent? She looks off and wears a Mona Lisa smile.
What is she thinking? Who was she thinking about?
This is no celebrity, no socialite, no one of royal
descent. This is my great grandmother,
Angelina Beccherini nee Bianchi. Nona was born in Treviglio, Italy on the 3rd
day of July 1883 and died in Islip, New York on the 4th of December
1965. I remember playing a card game with her - “Steel the old man’s pack”.
Nona was a tiny lady. I remember being
about 6 or 7 years old and being the same height as her. Her curly hair was her gift to me. Her speech had a strong Italian accent pronouncing her words with stress on different syllables - for example comfortable was "comFORtable"
Angelina, along with her sister Arturina, arrived in New
York on 4 June 1904 on the S.S. La Lorraine. They had $100.00 and they were
going to their "brother Bianchi" on 78 Charlton St. New York. Her nationality was
Italian, but her last permanent address was Havre France.
She married Carlo Beccherini on the 14th of
October 1907 in New York City at St. Vincent De Paul and their original
marriage certificate is written in French!
She was very close with my father whom she called “Sonny”. Nona was a very special lady and I'm glad I got to meet her.
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