User:Angelinagalante

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Early Life

Angelina Galante was born in Sturno, Avellino, Italy on September 22, 1880, to Raffaello and Clementina Galante. The Galante's were a powerful family in the late 1700's. The family owned most of Sturno and a large part of it's twin village, Frigento. Angelina was the only daughter of Raffaello and Clementina and was fortunate enough to live through childhood unlike her four brothers who dided in infancy.

[edit] Marriage

A 37 year old Italian American emigrant who had left Sturno years earlier, returned home following the death of his first wife, Maria Laudate, hoping to find a bride to help raise his five children. The widower, Pasquale DeRienzo was paid a large dowery by Raffaello Galante, for Mr. DeRienzo to marry his daughter and take her to America.

[edit] Life in America

Angelina and Pasquale settled down to family life in Waterbury, Connecticut. Angelina was a wonderful stepmother to Pasquale's children and soon was raising children of her own with Pasquale. Their life was idealic in America. The couple bought a large apartment building in the mostly Italian Brooklyn section of Waterbury. Soon, close neighbors became close friends, and then in-laws. Pasquale owned a barber shop in the downtown area while Angelina and the older daughters took care of the brood at home. Angelina proved to be very shrewd in all matters of business and soon the family was acquiring properties in Waterbury, Litchfield and Fairfield counties. Summers were spent at a large farm where the children learned lessons of life, but also business. Years later, Angelina would develop this property into a lucrative and famous gold club.

In 1910, Pasquale DeRienzo was faced with the worst crisis of his life. He was charged with having ties to the Neopolitan criminal orginization, the Camorra. Pasquale was taken into custody in Bridgeport, Connecticut and spent the next two years in county jail. In order to maintain the affluent lifestyle of the DeRienzo family, Angelina was forced to put money on the street. Between the real estate holdings and Angelina's lonesharking, Angelina kept the family going.

Pasquale died in 1918. After his death, a rift grew among Angelina and her stepchildren. Angelina never had an easy time with the oldest children, but after Pasquale's death, money issues seemed to complicate what was already a complicated relationship. Angelina passed away on November 11, 1968. She was a bitter, but wealthy woman. She was was buried at the rural cemetery in Middlebury, Connecticut.