My Mom's Family The Cuccia's

The Cuccia Family

Top Row: Ann DeCarlo, Collins Cuccia, Francis Hess, Jack Cuccia, Rose Nuccio, Charles Cuccia & Jessie Bryd
bottom row: Sal Cuccia, Beatrice & Frank Cuccia & Kate Cheiffio
 

 

Beatrice (Delise) and Frank Salvatore Cuccia

 

Wow at long last I have a picture of my Mom with her brothers and sisters, all 9 of them and my Grandma and Grandpa.  I am so delighted to have these pictures I could just cry from sheer excitement!  Now, you ask why so exciting and when did you get them.  My Mother Francis Katherine (Cuccia) Hess passed away in 1964 after a short illness with lung problems so my recollection of her family is very sketcy.  we lost contact with them after mom's passing and moved on with our lives.  So when I wanted to start searching for them I had the wrong info and could not find them.  I thought she had 12 siblings but as you see she only had 8 and I thought my grandfather's name was Charlie, but it wasn't.  I became frustrated with the search.  Then the impossible happened.  My brother Eddie in NY was at a car dealership one day last week and overheard a salesman on the phone spelling his last name.  C-U-CC-I-A!..Ed's ears perked up and after the salesman was off the phone he went over to him.  Hi Cousin - did you say your name was Cuccia, we might be related!  and indeed we were.  Frank, the salesperson turned out to be a second cousin...WOW!  he gave Eddie his father's phone # and address; whom Eddie called and indeed the father was our Cousin Frank (Salvatorie) Cuccia from Hawthorne NY whom we had played with as children.  Frank remembered Eddie and Me, even asked about me by name.  I was blown away when my brother related the story to me when I happened to call him on Thursday (3/7/13) and encouraged me to give Frank a call.  So I did - no answer- so I waited.  Frank called back Friday morning but I was at the Dr's, he was going golfing in the afternoon so I waited till Saturday morning to call.  We chatted for over an hour.  he emailed me the above pictures and even a picture of himself (with sunglasses on) He also sent me a picture of my cousin Helen Ann DeCarlo with her phone and address.  Helen Ann is the daughter of my Aunt Ann who died from breast cancer in her early 30's.  Wow! talk about a family connection.  I called Helen Ann and we spoke for almost 2 hrs on the phone.  She and her sister Gloria also lost touch with the family after her mom's death.  I forwarded franks email to her and while we were talking she had a framed picture of her mom and dad that she was going to scan and send to me.  She opened up the frame carefully and Behold! 2 other pictures were behind it - one of her mom and dad and the family picture, the same one I had just e-mailed to her.... Wow!  (sorry about all the wow's but I am too excited to think of a different word.)