Innocenza, known as Cincia,
was the eighth and last child and the fifth daughter of Marino and Marianna
(Pazzini) Grilli. She was born on
February 8, 1904 in Verucchio, Forlì.
Innocenza was 4 years old, in
1908, when the family moved from Verucchio to live with her uncle, Don Secondo
Grilli, a priest, at his parish rectory, San Gaudenzo, in Montefiore.
Innocenza was a very young
child when the older members of the family began to leave for America. She, along with her sister Francesca, was
made to do housekeeping chores which
also included the church. Her
grandmother, Angela, died when she was 8 and, at age 11, her mother, Marianna,
suddenly died from the complications of diabetes. Life became increasingly difficult for her,
her brother, Paolo, and sister, Francesca.
It appears that their departure
for America was delayed and World War I was still in
progress. This left the three youngest children without
maternal guidance, living with their father, an elderly grandfather and Don
Secondo, who was known to be quite a
difficult individual.
In late October of 1919, her
father, Marino left with Paolo (17) for America to join those family members
already there. Now only Innocenza and her sister, Francesca remained behind
with their uncle-priest and elderly grandfather (87) at the rectory in
Montefiore. With Luigi and Maria living
nearby in Rimini, the two young sisters became very close to them, especially
due to Luigi’s failing health. Luigi
died on June 5, 1920. Less than a year
later, when Innocenza turned 16, she and Francesca left for America with their
nephews, Luigi’s sons, Emilio (8) and Eugenio (6). They arrived in Philadelphia aboard the SS
America on April 21, 1921.
She and Francesca lived at 75
Neptune Road in East Boston. The two
nephews went to live with their uncle, Pino and his wife,
Marietta, on Pearl Street in Everett.
After living there for 13 years, Emilio and Eugenio (Gino) settled in
Worcester.
Ralph, born Nazario on Oct.
20, 1896 in Ogliastro Cilento (Salerno), emigrated from Italy in May of
1912. He was employed as a loom-fixer at
Maverick Mills, a cotton fabric mill, in East
Boston and lived with his parents and family at 313 Lexington Street in
East Boston. It was at Maverick Mills
that Innocenza and Ralph met and they married on Feb. 3, 1924 at St. Lazarus
Church in Orient Heights, East Boston.
They had four children: Alfred,
Anna (Perry), Albert and Arthur.
In 1960, they moved to 49
Butler Avenue in Stoneham.
Ralph died at 68, on March
25, 1964 and Innocenza died on Sept. 27, 1966 at the age of 62.
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