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Family History
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| (As told to me by my Mom)
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Grandma Giovanina (Jenny) Martino was born September 23, 1893 in Foggia, Italy. Grandma came to the United States with her parents, Great-Grandma Antonio Marie Marasco Martino and Great-Grandpa Urbano Martino and brother Great-Uncle Joseph. They came to the U.S. approximately around 1914 and landed at Ellis Island in NYC. They lived in Trenton, New Jersey for a short time, before finally settling in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania where Great-Grandpa Martino worked in the local coal mines. The picture at the left is of Grandma and Great-Uncle Joe prior to leaving Italy.
Grandpa Paolo (Paul) Policicchio was born December 25, 1893 in Cosenza, Italy. He came to the United States around 1914 as well and lived for a short period of time also in Trenton. It was in Trenton that Grandma and Grandpa met briefly. Grandpa worked his way through New Jersey and through various other cities such as Pittsburgh before finally ending up in Reynoldsville working in the coal mines. Lo and behold he met Grandma again and they began courting and were married on October 22, 1920 at St. Mary's Church in Reynoldsville. Grandma and Grandpa had seven children from 1921 until 1931. Uncle John and Baby Mary, who died as a baby, were born in Reynoldsville and Uncle Hank and Uncle Benny were born in Sykeville, which was a few miles from Reynoldsville. In 1926, Grandma, Grandpa and their 3 children moved to Vandergrift, PA, for Grandpa was able to find a job at the Carnegie Steel Mill located there. In Vandergrift, Uncle Spin, Uncle Erman and Mom were born. Grandma and Grandpa lived in Vandergrift until they passed away - Grandpa, age 97 on November 10, 1991 and Grandma, age 100 on May 27, 1994.
