Angelina Ciccia was born in a small farmhouse in Calabria where the family lived on the top floor of the stone structure and where the animals slept on the bottom floor. That was life in rural southern Italy in 1935. And it was where the eldest daughter would forego school because she was required to help out at home and on the farm.
As a poor, young and attractive girl, Angelina had many suitors vying for her hand in marriage, including one who would have ensured wealth for her family. But Angelina would have none of it, as she was loyal to her, her soulmate. Alone, at 18, and not knowing a word of English, nor having the ability to read or write, she boarded the Saturnia in February of 1954 and crossed the Atlantic for Canada.
Angelina was generous to a fault but she was also a ridiculous stickler for being on time. She would encourage her family to an hour before anyone needed to be ready for the most casual event close to home. Ma, as she was called, not only by her children but by their friends and even her husband, would also lose it if dishes were left in the sink: “You never know who’s gonna come over.”