Orsogna Women’s Club celebrates 75th anniversary

On Saturday, March 22, at Spinelli’s Function Facility, the Orsogna Women’s Club celebrated their 75^th anniversary. The event was attended by the Association’s entire Administration: Roberta Cicolini (President), Norma Di Carlo (Vice President), Giuliana Iocco Angelo (Treasurer), Amelia Iocco (Finances Secretary), Serafina Cipollone (Secretary), Rosalba Paolini (Trustee), Rita Cornelio (Trustee) and Marygrace Gravallese Festa (Trustee).

The Orsogna Women’s Club was founded on March 5, 1950, by 34 women, all born in Orsogna (a little town in the Abruzzo region of Italy) or married to Orsognese men. Their goal was to keep contact with the hometown, help each other adapt to the United States, and teach their customs to future generations. All the presidents, since 1950, have adhered to these goals. Trips have been organized in the United States as well as abroad – countless dinner dances, health-focused programs, educational programs, seminars, etc. The Club has always been present in helping the less fortunate: Rosie’s Place for homeless and battered women, the Italian Children’s Home of Jamaica Plain, the Don Orione Nursing Home in E. Boston, raised money for earthquake and flood victims, and much more. The president, Roberta Cicolini, pointed out that the Association could not have done any of these things, or for that matter celebrate 75 years, without the membership’s help.

Orsogna Women’s Club received several commendations: Citations were issued by Mayor  Carlo DeMaria, and State Representative Paul J. Donato; congratulations were received from Andrea Marinucci (Major of Orsogna), Mario Tenaglia (Director of the Folk Group of Orsogna), Monsignor Giuseppe Liberatoscioli of Orsogna, Tony Ferrari (President of the Orsogna Mutual Aid Society of Astoria, N.Y.), Rodolfo Sarchese (President of the New Orsogna Club of Astoria, N.Y.) and Father Khiet of Everett’s St. Anthony Church. Vincent Paolini, president of the Sons of Orsogna Association, presented to the Orsogna Women’s Club a beautiful, engraved dish and to the president, Roberta Cicolini, a just-as-beautiful, engraved crystal vase.

Speeches were given by Maria Fosco, chairwoman of Astoria’s Orsognese Clubs and Co-founder and Curator of the Italian Immigration Museum of Astoria, and by Ivana Marroncelli, Italian Consulate in Boston attaché in charge of the Department of Italian Education. The event was masterfully directed by the Master of Ceremonies, Rita Cornelio.