Luigina Iosue, 93, passed away peacefully in her home in Oro Valley, Arizona on September 7, 2021. She was a beloved Wife, Daughter, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She is survived by her three sons: Frank, Nick and Orlando...all, of Arizona; 2 Daughters-In-Law: Roxane ( Nick ), and Cheryl ( Orlando ); 7 grandchildren: Joseph, Anthony, and Rayman ( Orlando & Cheryl ); and, Mekala, Emma, Jessy and Lucas ( Nick & Roxane ); 6 Great-Grandchildren; Ethan and Caiden ( Mekala ); Ezri and Roxas ( Emma ); Elise ( Joseph ), and Logan ( Jessy ); granddaughter-in-law, Cristina ( Joseph ); 2 grandsons-in-law: Brett ( Mekala ) and Erik ( Emma ): and numerous nieces and nephews, around the world.
She was predeceased by her husband, Carmine, in 1995; her mother, Francesca, in 1984; her father, Marioangelo, in 1954; her brother, Nichola, in 1940; her sister, Pasqualena, in 1991: her brother, Luigi, in 2011; and her daughter-in-law, Mary Susan ( Frank ), in 1999.
Gina ( as all her family and friends knew her ) was born in a small town named Toro, in the Molise region of Italy, on September 3, 1928...her character, forged by the rigors of life in small town, depression-era and war-ravaged Toro of the 1930's and 1940's, steeled the resolve, determination and courage that was the bedrock of her nature....coupled with a deeply-rooted passion for life, and an unparalleled capacity for love, sacrifice, compassion and generosity of spirit. In spite of much adversity, and personal heartache from the early-life losses of her father ( who died in Venezuela when she was only 26 ), and her younger brother, Nichola ( who died in Toro, before the age of 10 ), her courageous spirit was the source of all the boundless abundance and nurturing that she gave so generously, and that was experienced, unfailingly, by her family, her children and everyone blessed to have known her.
Married by proxy in May 1950, husband Carmine returned to Italy a few months later, and Gina and Carmine enjoyed a belated honeymoon; after which, Carmine had to return to the U.S. Then, 8 months pregnant, and alone, Gina boldly boarded an ocean liner in Naples in May of 1951, and endured a 13 day voyage to New York to join Carmine ( who was then living in the U.S. -- in California - and who had been working diligently on arranging travel papers for Gina, after the end of World War 2 animosities with Italy ), and then travel across country by train to begin her new life in Los Angeles, California. Their first son, Frank, was born a few weeks later on June 30. ( Second son, Nick, was born in 1954; and third son, Orlando, in 1961 ).
Early life in L.A. was challenging for her and Carmine, as they shared a home with Carmine's mother and father, Giuseppina and Giuseppe. Gina began working as a seamstress in the garment district of Los Angeles, a little over a year later, to help solidify the family's income and security. Having no knowledge of English, Gina immersed herself in her work and spoke Italian to her Spanish speaking co-workers in order to communicate. Little by little, she learned the English language. Through their hard work and steady efforts, Gina and Carmine were able to buy their first home in 1954, where they lived until the family moved to Westlake Village / Thousand Oaks, California in 1972. As a result of Gina and Carmine's persistent efforts, Gina's mother, Francesca, was able to join the family in 1957, arriving from Italy after the death of husband Marioangelo in Venezuela, and many years of separation from her children. Francesca remained a beloved member of Gina's family, until her death, in Tucson, in 1984. Gina, Carmine, Francesca and Orlando moved to Tucson in the summer of 1983.
Gina especially enjoyed entertaining friends and family, and was an amazing cook. She loved knitting, sewing and crocheting. A person deeply connected to the beauties and bounties of the Earth, she delighted in gardening and flowers. Some of her and her mother's and husband's happiest times were spent together in the then-accessible fields of produce production in Camarillo, California ( not far from Thousand Oaks ), and gleaning and harvesting fresh vegetables and fruits in fields that had already been harvested by machines, but still abundant with much quality, un-picked produce. They would venture out, almost weekly, and bring back car trunk loads of the amazing vegetables they would pick and preserve. The family's time living in Ventura County was one of the most wonderful periods of Gina's life.
Gina also enjoyed traveling, but due to the financial priorities of early married life, was only able to journey occasionally...the highlight of her early travels was a month-long family train trip ( with Carmine, Frank and Nick ) in 1964 to the Midwest and Eastern United States to reconnect with many old Italian friends who came to the U.S. after the war, and who had settled far from California. She was able, later in life, to enjoy more extensive, and longer distance traveling...visiting Italy ( 3 times ), Venezuela ( 3 times ), Hawaii ( 5 times ), and many other destinations around California and the rest of the United States.
Gina had many, many friends and extended family members. All of them valued her very much, and treasured her congeniality, her hospitality, and her companionship. Gina's life set a brilliant example for her children to follow, and was an extraordinary testament to the strength, courage, determination and zest for life exhibited by so many of the people of her generation...what many have, justifiably, named "The Greatest Generation". Overcoming the Depression, World War 2; a language deficit from having to start over in a foreign country; low wage employment, early on, due to her lack of advanced education and her immigrant status....and through the sheer determination and drive to succeed and create her own "Italian-American Dream", her life evidenced what is so much taken for granted in this day and age: that hard work, commitment, passion, faith in God, belief in the goodness of people and life, and the never-failing power of love and giving of one's self to help others in need...these are the values and principles that make a life successful....and her life was a triumphant example of those hallowed ideals. She successfully survived two rounds of treatment for Breast Cancer; battled Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, hearing loss, and failing manual dexterity in the final years of her life...and kept fighting and kept loving, keeping her faith and her trust in God, all the way to the end.
Thank you for being our rock, our inspiration and our center of gravity, and safety, and love, for all of our lives, Mom....We will always cherish your love, your life, your memory; and be forever grateful for your never-ending and unconditional commitment and sacrifices to ensure and cement our well-being, our good health, our happiness and our success. You were our Angel on Earth...and now you are an Angel in Heaven! God Bless you, always, Dearest Mom!
Gina's remarkable journey through life will be celebrated on Friday, September 24th at 12:30 PM at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery, 5801 E. Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona. Committal and Reception to follow.
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