The Coletta Story

When Grandpop and Grandmom would visit us in Ventnor, every day at 11:30 am sharp Grandmom would deliver Grandpop his lunch: BLT (I think) on toast. Then Grandpop would put on his hat and walk the boards, smiling and waving at everyone. On Wednesdays he took a bath. Grandmom would sew matching dresses for me and her. What great memories.

But there's so much I don't know - who they were as people, what they were like as little kids, what they loved, what frustrated them, could they sing? Did they dance?

The generation of Coletta Cousins that played in the ocean together are now growing so old, pretty fast, that some of us (not me!) have grandkids playing in the ocean. How did THAT happen? We are quickly becoming ANCESTORS and I feel like I don't know enough about my own ancestors to become one myself! Can you help?

My goal is to gather as many stories and anecdotes, memories and pictures as I can - from you guys - and pull them all together in a book we can give our kids so they better understand the Coletta blood that runs through them. If your parents are still around (I have so many questions for mine!) could you interview them about their childhoods, about their siblings and parents? If you have memories of your own parents, your childhood, and family could you send them my way?

You can either post a comment below in a particular family (I'll "hide" the comments so the book is a surprise) or e-mail me anything you want (phylliscoletta@aol.com). If you have photos to share I would LOVE to have them in the book.... just scan and e-mail or send them to me at PO Box 880111 Steamboat Springs CO 80488 and I'll get them back to you. I'd like to have the book available on the internet so you can order it for your self or your kids for Christmas.

Sound good? Will you forward this on to any member of the family who may want to contribute? We have to preserve the memories, and share the history with our kids. The Coletta legacy really is a legacy of love.

Thanks and love to you all,
Phyllis

Grandmom and Grandpop

Where were they born?
Where did they meet?
What was Grandpop like as a kid?
How many brothers and sisters did he have?
Where did Grandmom go to school?
Who were her parents?
What was like life for them as a young couple?
How did they manage - from nothing - to raise so many wonderful kids?

What's your favorite Grandpop story? Grandmom?

Whatever you can contribute will help us know them again, and better.

Richard Coletta

So handsome and sweet.... was he like that as a kid? As a little brother? Though he always said "God bless you" I think it was God that blessed us with Uncle Richie. What can you tell us? What does he remember about growing up in South Philly?

Carmela Coletta Leonetti

What a beautiful name and what a beautiful person! How hard was it being the mother of Ricky? Where did she get that wonderful smile? What did she and Uncle Johnny love to do with all those kids? Tell us everything you remember (and ask them yourselves!)

Domenic Coletta

He loved Frank Sinatra ("My Way" especially) and 60 minutes. He loved the shore and the farms of South Jersey. He thought pennies were "a waste" and would throw them out the car window!

What do you remember of Domenic?

Anthony Coletta

Anthony was so handsome! How did he get into the food business? Did he play sports as a kid? What did he and Olga love to do? What's your most poignant memory of Anthony?

Vincent Coletta

How I loved his beautiful white head of hair! But what color was his hair as a kid? What did he love to do? Where did he meet beautiful Gwen? What made the family laugh?

Ronnie Coletta Marino

Was she always so beautiful? What was she like in second grade? She and Uncle Frankie had a love story.... What did they do as a family? What were their joys and sorrows?

Al Coletta

Where did Uncle Al meet Aunt Anita? Where did they raise that gorgeous family? What did they love to do? What was Al like as a kid? Tell us everything!