Casa Emigranti Italiani 

Few People have done as much for the immigrants from Canicattini as Connie Ficara ( Mangiafico).

For over 16 years she presided over the Canicattinese Women's Club of Hartford and contributed to the strengthening of a club which was founded in 1936!

Born in Hartford in 1930, Connie is one of three children of Salvatore and Melina Mangiafico. One brother, Sal, became Principal of Buckley High chool and died much too young from MS while older brother Paul worked his entire life at Hartford Electric and is now retired.

Connie worked for decades at United Tool and Die, an aerospace manufacturing company,  where she was responsible for reviewing and approving contracts.

She married Joseph Ficara, my mother's brother, in 1953, and she is the reason that I am now in America!

My last surviving uncle, my mother's brother, died on July 2nd at age 83!

Joe was a hard working person, very generous and extremely stubborn!

He emigrated to the USA in 1953 and worked for the MDC, the water bureau, for some 40 years. My family came to the States thru him!

FICARA, Joseph 
Joseph Ficara, 83, of Wethersfield, beloved husband for 60 years of Concetta "Connie" (Mangiafico) Ficara, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, (July 2, 2013) surrounded by family and friends. Born on August 21, 1929 in Canicattini Bagni, province of Siracusa, Sicily, he was the son of the late Rosario and Antonina (Reale) Ficara. Joe retired from the Metropolitan District Commission in Hartford after almost 40 years of dedicated service. An accomplished stone mason, he also worked on many projects for friends and acquaintances. Joe was an avid soccer fan and cheered enthusiastically for his favorite Italian club, Juventus. He was also a member of the Canicattinese Society and the Italian-American Stars. In addition to his loving wife Connie, Joe will be dearly missed by his sister, Sebastiana Cugno; his nephews, Paul Pirrotta and his wife Jo-Ann, and Salvatore Cugno and his wife Denise; and his niece, Lina Borgia and her husband Roberto. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Paul Mangiafico and his wife Josephine; his nephews, Mark, Michael and Salvatore Mangiafico and several great-nephews and great-nieces. In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his sister, Giovanna Pirrotta. 
Funeral services will be on Saturday at 10:15 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Calling hours are Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel. Donations in Joe's memory may be made to the House of Bread, 1453 Main St., Hartford, CT 06120. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.

Ficara family mid 1940's

1953 Joe, Mammanina, Nonno Rosario and me! 

 1953, from L to R: Nanedda, Mammanina, Ma, me, Connie and her mother.1953: same as above plus the men Giuseppe Cugno, Joe, Nonno and Pa.

1953, In Sicily

 Don't know who they are but too cute to ignore!

Connie, early 1950

1953 , wedding picture.

Connie's Parents

Connie and her brothers

Connie's father at left

1957, Joe and Bob Pace

Connie's mother Melina

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Mid 1970's2003, 50 years anniversaryEarly 1970's, Sal ( Connie's father on left) and my grandafther.

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My mother, Mammanina and Melina ( Connie's mother) early 1970's.

Sindaco Cultrera visit.

 Sindaco Cugno

Sal Mangiafico ( fish on hand) and a friend in this picture from the early 1940's

Paul, 1955

Connie, late 1940's.

No clue as to  place of this picture but it intrigued me that it is the ONLY picture I have seen where we see two black guys! Connie is visible in the middle of the picture  and I am guessing must be early 1950's.

Joe at work for MDC in the mid to late 1950's!

Connie's maternal grandparents, Paoledda and Salvatore, at front right in this pic from the 1950's!

1967, the Mangiafico family

2012, Joe and Tanino at Italian American Stars