Frank Charney's Sunday Postcard

Corrections to Identifcation of ladies in a 1968 photo

April 25, 2010  

In the spirit of Jon's scrolling banner "New feature: Who Are They?" on the present Nanty Glo Home Page, perhaps I best scroll out of sight for a while for incorrectly identifying several ladies in the 1968 picture above.. Jon, however, did tell viewers to "give it a shot" and that's what I did.

I identified only one lady correctly, Mrs. Vicky Connelly, and missed with "Sis" Kerr and Dorothy Waldron. The latter two ladies were also always active in Nanty Glo civic and veterans associations.

I promise to make a better effort in researching subjects. The excuse I offer is that the picture wasn't enlarged enough for a closer look at the subjects.

Mrs. Phyllis LaMantia Grembi and her husband, Mike, have stepped forward to correctly identify the ladies in the picture. The ladies in the 1968 picture were active members of the Nanty Glo Democratic Committee and were meeting at the Nanty Glo VFW. Seated at the left, (while facing the picture) is Veronica Smith - as identified by Mike. Veronica worked at the Ebensburg Court House for years where the Democrats were always in control. I knew Veronica well, together with her family, since we attended St. Mary's Parochial School and Nanty Glo High School together.

Phyllis could only give me a phonetic clue about the woman seated in the center. My cryptographic skills (like viewing the Nanty Glo St. Mary's Cemetery listing) identified her as Anna Yenelouis (1909 - 1988), but this still needs confirmation.

Phyllis continues to correctly identify the others: Artemesia Capelli Grembi (1914 - 2003), her mother-in-law (standing at the right back), and Mae Corti-Sacchet (standing at the left) who passed away only a month ago. Her recent obituary is as follows:

CORTI-SACCHET — Mae, 97, of 4848 Admiral Perry Highway, Ebensburg, died March 15, 2010, at Rebekah Manor, Ebensburg. Born Sept. 8, 1912, in Italy, daughter of Joseph and Esther Gabelli. Preceded in death by parents; first husband, Vallie Corti; second husband, Victor Sacchet; son, Robert Corti; daughter-in-law, Bernadette Corti; stepson, Fred Sacchet; and brothers, Arnold and Daniel. Survived by son, Raymond (Lena) Corti, Willowick, Ohio; stepdaughters, Rosemarie (Bill) Booth-Rosage, Johnstown; and Susanne (John) Hurley, Ebensburg; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Member of Rosary Altar Society; St. Vincent de Paul Society; Catholic Daughters of America, Court 680, Ebensburg; and Democratic Ladies. Friends received from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Matevish and Matevish Funeral Home, Ebensburg, where vigil service will be held Thursday evening. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Name Catholic Church, Ebensburg, the Rev. Monsignor Arnold L. Gaus. Committal, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Nanty Glo. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ebensburg, or Holy Name School Angel Fund in Mae’s memory.

I hope I have recovered some of my credibility in "only getting the facts," as TV's Sergeant Joe Friday used to say, as the Home Page Sunday blogger.

— Frank Charney