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Grandpa Charles & Grandma Mamie's Love Story


Surname Caltabellotta
Submitted by
Roseanne Caleca (rosiesfamilytree)
Date submitted May 18, 2006

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Grandpa Charles (Fortunato) Caltabellotta worked as a Plain and Ornamental Plasterer with his brother Anthony. They both worked on The Roxy Theater in New York City when it was being built in 1927. At that time it was the world's largest theater with a symphony orchestra and seated over 6200 people. It was built by W. W. Ahlschelager, for Samuel L. "Roxy" Rothafel. The grand opening was March 11, 1927.

Grandma Concetta (Mamie) Iulo was a nurse and worked in a New York City hospital in the 1920's. She was not your typical woman in her era. She wore pants when women only wore dresses. She was a very independent woman and she became a nurse when nurses were looked down upon. She also worked for a Dr. Herman in Boro Park, Brooklyn.

When Grandpa Charles's mother Great Grandma Maria Anna (LoMonte) became ill, Mamie she was called to nurse her in their home. That is when she met Grandpa Charles and the romance began. It was love at first site. When the bathroom ceiling feel down in the Iulo home Grandma Mamie called Grandpa Charles to repair it. No doubt, his stock went up with Mamie's parents, they loved him from the start. The courtship began and Grandpa Charles asked Great Grandpa Pietro Iulo for permission to see her and later asked for her hand in marriage.

They were happily married on June 27, 1925, at the Church of St. Rosalia. It was a small wedding with family and friends. They did not have a honeymoon, but instead went home after the reception. It was not long after they were married Grandma Mamie became suddenly ill and remained in bed for about one year, losing strength. Between 1926 and 1932, they had three children Salvatore, Marianne and Evangeline. Around 1935 Grandma Mamie was in the hospital with pneumonia and Grandpa Charles was ill in the hospital for what they thought was TB but it was not. While he was away recuperating and unable to work, the family was left with no money to pay for coal to heat the house. Their family doctor, Dr. Tiescher paid for a truckload of coal to be delivered to the Caltabellotta home, which lasted the rest of the cold, dark winter and kept them warm. He also made daily and weekly house visits to check up on Grandma Mamie and the children and accepted no payment for his services.

Aunt Josie Iulo remembers Grandma Mamie to be a beautiful woman who loved her husband and children and was fun to be with. One day Grandma Mamie and Aunt Josie Iulo took the train to New York City to go to Hearn's Department Store. In those days, the Department Store had a horse drawn coach pick customers up at the railroad station and bring them to the store. While they were in Manhattan, she also visited some of the doctors and nurses she used to work with before she was married.




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