Agnese Blangiardo

Agnese Curiale in Blangiardo was born in Vizzini, Italy 99 years ago on January 5, 1926. She lived there with her father Francesco Curiale, mother Giovanna Todaro, and siblings Teresa, Nina, Giovanni, and Sarina.

When Agnese was eight she was sent with her cousin Franca to the nunnery in San Remo, Italy where she remained for three years. When her father passed away in 1937, she returned to Sicily to help her mother with the family store and to care for her siblings. The family survived WWII together in Sicily. In 1946, Agnese married Michele Blangiardo, a recent veteran of the war, who had served in Ethiopia. Soon thereafter, her mother Giovanna remarried a recent emigrant to Chicago, Nino Guzzardi, and subsequently moved with Agnese’s two youngest siblings to America.

Michele and Agnese had three children: Paolo (Paul), Francesco (Frank), and Concetta (Connie). Michele developed cancer and ultimately passed away in 1962 and was buried in the Blangiardo crypt in the Vizzini Cemetery. Agnese was left with no money or resources, no profession to speak of, and the care of the three children. She made the hard decision to reunite with her mother and siblings in Chicago. Due to emigration laws, Agnese had to leave her children behind in Sicily for six months. When she arrived, she went to work for Hart, Schaffner, and Marx as a seamstress doing piecework.

Agnese lived in her home on Austin Avenue for approximately 62 years. She loved to travel: she went on many cruises with her son and daughter-in-law and traveled to Italy with her grandchildren. She was very proud of all in her family and dedicated and loved them all very much. She succumbed to dementia one day prior to reaching her 99th year.

Agnese is survived by her children Frank (Tammy) and Connie (Lee Witkowski), her grandchildren Robert (Rosa), John (Sara), Frank Jr. (Faith), Felicia, Michelle (Chris King), Jessica (Todd Bateman), Daniela (Greg Brzozowski), Mark (Alexis), and her 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Paolo, daughter-in-law Rosa, and grandson Michaele.

Visitation for Agnese will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 West Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634. Final Viewing & Prayers will occur Friday, January 10, 2025 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, 6901 West Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will occur Friday, January 10, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Saint Ferdinand Catholic Church, 5900 W Barry Ave, Chicago, IL 60634. Her Committal & Entombment Service will occur Friday, January 10, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.