Nunziata "Nancy" Neglia

Nunziata (Nancy) Neglia was born 14 April 1914 in Geraci Siculo, Sicily.  The name Nunziata is a form of the Italian word “Annunciazione,” the annunciation.  Her mother, Rosaria, a devout Catholic wanted her to be a nun, along with her older sister who was a nun.  In 1938 she married Mauro Neglia and had seven children.  Her first born child, Francesca, died of whooping cough at the age of two.  She was a member of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress, California for over 50 years and attended Sunday Mass every Sunday until she could no longer travel. She was married to Mauro for 54 years until his death in 1992.  In 1956 Nancy and her entire family of eight, the oldest being 14 and the youngest 8 months moved to Los Angeles, California traveling by cruise ship from Palermo to New York and a three-day train trip to Los Angeles. Although she only had a second-grade education she was wise beyond her schooling; her wisdom came from her real-life experience. Upon arrival in the US she went to work right away as a seamstress, making new clothes for Dale of California in Los Angeles.  Besides her six living children, she has 8 grand-children 13 great-grand-children. She had a strong faith in God and it radiated to all who knew her.  She was a woman of strong character, a tireless worker.  All who knew her loved her positive disposition and her warm dignity.