Ciuffreda, Delores and Angelina

Conversation with Terry C and Mary R (recorded by Joe Ragucci):

Delores and Angelina did everything together.  When Delores became sick her mother Angelina was devastated.  She couldn’t understand how this could happen. The signs of Delores’ illness began before Warren died.  She was a retired teacher and would often substitute in Edison schools.  She stopped substituting because she said that she couldn’t find her room.  She was confused about the simplest things.  Shortly after that Warren died suddenly and she went into a deep depression.   He would do everything for her and now he was gone. I (Joe) remember seeing Delores and Angelina at Sunday Mass.  For about 2 years Delores would cry constantly during the Mass.  She couldn’t stop her grief.  Eventually this led to hospitalization and eventually her early death.  Dolores past away on Angelina’s 90th birthday.  Once Delores died Angelina became angry at the world and deteriorated rapidly until her death.

Ciuffreda, Leonard – “At Bob & Terry’s”

Conversation with Terry C and Mary R (recorded by Joe Ragucci):

Uncle Leo loved Bob & Terry’s house in Watchung.  He would stop by unannounced since he had his own key.   Terry said he always had note cards in his pocket and would jot down things that needed to be done as he walked around. Then he’d come and fix things to keep busy. Many times he convinced Warren to come with him to do things. She remembers times when they started taking down wallpaper and painting, and trimming doors that were sticking. He just loved the house, but he would fix things there and let his own house go untouched.

Ragucci, Rose Nardi – “Dad’s remembrances”

Conversation with Dominic Ragucci – recorded by Joseph Ragucci

Dom always talks to Rose and I about my mother and his first wife Rose.  He rarely talked about her when he was married to Marge.  But when Marge died he felt no restrictions to talk about what he feels.  It is clear that Rose was the love of his life.  He constantly talks about talking to her when things are not going right or he wants help for someone.  For example, when his sister Angelina died last week he told us that the first thing he did was ask Rose to take care of his sister.  He is strong believer that he will meet her when he passes from this world.  And, because of that, he says that he has no fear of dying. 

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