WORCESTER - Mrs. Jennie (Cotoia) DiCicco, 100, passed away Friday April 13th at Millbury Health Care Center with her family by her side.
Jennie was born February 24, 1918 in Providence, Rhode Island the oldest of three children born to Italian immigrants, Vito and Gessupina “Marie” (Calitri) Cotoia. In 1945 she married her army sweet heart, Alfonso A. DiCicco and they made their home in Worcester with their three children. Alfonso passed in March of 2008.
In her youth she started to learn to sew to help bring extra money to her parents. With money tight, she made enough money to purchase material to make her high school graduation dress. Providence being a jewelry city, Jennie learned the art of jewelry making.
During World War II she worked in several wire mills and the Rhode Island Navy Shipyard as a riveter. She retired from Worcester City Hospital in the sewing department and continued into her 80’s as a skilled and accomplished seam stress. In May 2002 she had the privilege of talking to the students of Shrewsbury High School sharing her life living through the depression and war. After her 91st birthday, she started sewing blankets and pillow toys for the children of the cardiac unit at Boston Children Hospital. This heart fulfilling career was introduced to her from a Millbury grandmother whose grandchild was under the care of the hospital. At 92 she travelled with her children and grandchildren to Panni, Foggia to see the homeland of her parents and meet many welcoming relatives. True to her Italian heritage, she loved cooking Italian foods and baking Italian cookies and everyone was always welcomed at her home to eat! Besides sewing she had a passion for gardening especially saving her heirloom geraniums for replanting.
She attended mass at St Stephen’s Catholic Church and was a former member of its women’s guild ad a former member of the Blithewood School Improvement Society.
Jennie attended Salmon Adult Day Care in Northbridge,Ma. and enjoyed meeting friends and the friendly staff. As part of her 100th birthday she received the Key to the City of Worcester on behalf of the Mayor.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Bette Ann DiCicco, a sister, Maria DiMeo, and a brother, Domenic Cotoia.
Jennie leaves her daughter, Joanne Prince and her husband Paul, a son Ted DiCicco and his wife Jennifer Jabareen; her grandchildren, Rebecca A. Byrne and her husband Lawrence, Sarah Shibley and her husband Jesse, Peter DiCicco and his wife Sandra, Laura Leavitt and her husband Asa; five great grandchildren, Emelia Byrne, Ava and Elise Shibley, Rye and Theo Leavitt; a sister in law, Patricia DiCicco, her former daughter in law, Carolyn Bennett DiCicco; a long time family friend, Ann Adams also many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 17th from FAZIO FUNERAL HOME, 9 Branch St in Worcester. Calling hours will be on Tuesday morning from 9:00am to 10:30am at the Funeral Home. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00a.m. at St Stephens Church, Worcester. Interment will be in St John’s Cemetery. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Louis M. Fazio III, please visit www. faziofuneralhome.com for directions and condolences
Jennie was born February 24, 1918 in Providence, Rhode Island the oldest of three children born to Italian immigrants, Vito and Gessupina “Marie” (Calitri) Cotoia. In 1945 she married her army sweet heart, Alfonso A. DiCicco and they made their home in Worcester with their three children. Alfonso passed in March of 2008.
In her youth she started to learn to sew to help bring extra money to her parents. With money tight, she made enough money to purchase material to make her high school graduation dress. Providence being a jewelry city, Jennie learned the art of jewelry making.
During World War II she worked in several wire mills and the Rhode Island Navy Shipyard as a riveter. She retired from Worcester City Hospital in the sewing department and continued into her 80’s as a skilled and accomplished seam stress. In May 2002 she had the privilege of talking to the students of Shrewsbury High School sharing her life living through the depression and war. After her 91st birthday, she started sewing blankets and pillow toys for the children of the cardiac unit at Boston Children Hospital. This heart fulfilling career was introduced to her from a Millbury grandmother whose grandchild was under the care of the hospital. At 92 she travelled with her children and grandchildren to Panni, Foggia to see the homeland of her parents and meet many welcoming relatives. True to her Italian heritage, she loved cooking Italian foods and baking Italian cookies and everyone was always welcomed at her home to eat! Besides sewing she had a passion for gardening especially saving her heirloom geraniums for replanting.
She attended mass at St Stephen’s Catholic Church and was a former member of its women’s guild ad a former member of the Blithewood School Improvement Society.
Jennie attended Salmon Adult Day Care in Northbridge,Ma. and enjoyed meeting friends and the friendly staff. As part of her 100th birthday she received the Key to the City of Worcester on behalf of the Mayor.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Bette Ann DiCicco, a sister, Maria DiMeo, and a brother, Domenic Cotoia.
Jennie leaves her daughter, Joanne Prince and her husband Paul, a son Ted DiCicco and his wife Jennifer Jabareen; her grandchildren, Rebecca A. Byrne and her husband Lawrence, Sarah Shibley and her husband Jesse, Peter DiCicco and his wife Sandra, Laura Leavitt and her husband Asa; five great grandchildren, Emelia Byrne, Ava and Elise Shibley, Rye and Theo Leavitt; a sister in law, Patricia DiCicco, her former daughter in law, Carolyn Bennett DiCicco; a long time family friend, Ann Adams also many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 17th from FAZIO FUNERAL HOME, 9 Branch St in Worcester. Calling hours will be on Tuesday morning from 9:00am to 10:30am at the Funeral Home. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00a.m. at St Stephens Church, Worcester. Interment will be in St John’s Cemetery. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Louis M. Fazio III, please visit www. faziofuneralhome.com for directions and condolences
 |  |  |
