Introduction
Over 120 years after her birth, my maternal Grandpa Sam’s sister Filomena is now among one of the most famous women from Agropoli. Thanks to guidance from Michael Muro and Giuseppe Carnicelli, an Italian language article about Filomena is now available to our readers through the use of Google Translator.
Please note: This is a translation from the Italian language version to English using Google Translator. No attempt has been made to edit or change the original content. The original material was created by Ernesto Apicella for InfoCilento. What we offer here is a translation for educational and informational purposes only.
The only changes made were to correct errors in the translation as follows:
*The pronoun his was replaced with her when describing Filomena’s parents.
*The words Saturday and Italy are replaced with the proper first names of Sabato and Italia. They were Filomena’s siblings.
*Giuseppe D’Agosto’s residence at 83 Baxter Street was located in Manhattan’s Little Italy, not in Brooklyn.
*Filomena’s daughter married into the Dell’Amore family. The translation described her daughter ‘s married name as Love. The Dell’Amore sauces were similarly translated as Love.
*Frank Dell’Amore was described as first her nephew and then her grandson. We have translated that into Grandson.
*Turi is not her nephew but her Great-Grandson.
The article mentions Filomena and Giuseppe’s children by their Italian names: Raffaela (Lillian), Franco, Emilia and Marta. They were also known by their American names: Lillian, Frank, Emily and Martha. But most of the family used Emilia when addressing or mentioning the daughter of Filomena and Giuseppe D’Agosto. This was done to distinguish her from Emily, the daughter of Sam Serrapede. Both were named after their Grandmother Emilia Papplardo Serrapede.
Please use the link to the Italian language article. There you will find photos of Filomena, her family and Old Agropoli.
The close-up of Filomena Serrapede D’Agosto used below is from a photo in the collection Josie Muro Serrapede left to her daughter Emily. In turn, Emily bequeathed the collection to her daughter EmilyAnn and brother Sammy. These photos are watermarked to provide necessary credit for their source and direct any questions about them to us.
Filomena’s grandsons have done honor to her memory and her culinary legacy through the fine Italian sauces they offer. Uncle Sammy and I like them all. You may visit the Dell’Amore site at: http://dellamore.com/
InfoCilento article about Filomena Serrapede D’Agosto
Filomena Serrapede … the most famous Agropolese woman in the world
By Ernesto Apicella
Published on March 7, 2017
InfoCilento
English translation: http://tinyurl.com/y9u8eden
Italian Language (original article): http://tinyurl.com/y8clz8ko
The story full of sacrifices, renunciations, courage … of an Agropolese woman emigrated, in 1924, to the United States of America.
Between 1884 and 1930, the Agropolis population oscillated around five thousand people, half of whom lived constantly in the countryside. The economy was predominantly agricultural, followed by fishing, sheep-farming and trade. There was a good production of wine, oil and figs that were mostly sold in Italy and abroad. Sheep, goats and pigs were raised for meat and milk production. For jobs in fields and transport, donkeys, horses, buoys and buffaloes were used.
The most important districts were: High Agropoli (N’goppa Aruopole), residential and social center; The “Marina” (Abbascio ‘a Marina), the naval and fishing pole; C.so Garibaldi (‘U Cumune), the new shopping and tourist center; The “Station”, the hub of the city and Cilento’s mobility.
” N ‘ Goppa Aruopole ” was the heart of Agropoli. In its ancient walls was the social, economic and religious life of the Agropolises. There were shops, taverns, a Salt and Tobacco Shop, two Pharmacies, a Post Office, three Churches, and all that could serve the primary needs. At the song of the rooster, the village, as if enchantingly, was home to a thousand people who, going to work, crossed the ancient door and descended the stairs. Peasants, fishermen, furnace workers, craftsmen, merchants, ready to face a long, tiring, grueling workday that ended at the fall of the sun. The homecoming, a poor hot meal, the bed … what a life! Between the ancient and narrow alleys, under the medieval arches, in the poor and neglected houses, in a few square meters, lived together: pains and joys; Odi and amori; Misery and nobility !!!
Continue reading “Filomena Serrapede D’Agosto: Her life, her times and her legacy”
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