Born on September 29, 1905, in the small farming town of Sulmona, Italy, she was the 1st child of Paniflo "Paul'"and Annunziata "Nancy" Letterie She came to America via Ellis Island, NY at the age of five years old. She came to America on the ship S.S. Cedric with her mother, "Nancy" and her brother Daniel "Thomas". sailing from Naples Italy. Their father was already living in the Pittsburgh area. The family initially lived in the Pittsburgh,Pa area where her father worked in the coal mines, coal was needed for the new steel industry located in that area. Later her father moved the family to Philadelphia were he got a job on the Reading Railroad in the Port Richmond section of the city. The family rented, then purchased a house at 2645 East Somerset St. Philadelphia PA 1934 They added a small separate building in the rear yard, which was called "House and Half". It had two bedrooms and a bath, this was used for borders, a way to make extra monies in the those days. Most renters were from Italy, immigrants arriving, needing a place to stay, while they sought jobs in America.That his how Felice met Salvatore Centofanti, her husband. At the age of 16, she married him on June 22, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pa. Their honeymoon was a one day stay in Atlantic City. They lived in a rental house located on Mercer St., which was close to her Mom's house on Somerset St. They started a family after a few years of marriage. She had a total of eleven children, Joseph, Dominic, Albert, Daniel, Rita, Loreta, Salvatore, Pat, Nancy, Ronald and Paul. The family lived on Memphis St, but as the family grew larger, moved to 2960 Aramingo Ave. Later the family moved to 812 Kerper St. in the Northeast section of Philadelphia in October 1954. Felice worked in various textile mills in the Philadelphia. She attended school until 6th grade, but was told she would have to leave school to work, in order to help support the family finances, which was a common occurrence in those days, for she was the oldest child in the family.She took various jobs in the many textile mills located in Philadelphia at that time. The work was hard and dirty. She even got work during the Great Depression of 1929-31. She worked various shifts, both day and night to support family. She worked until whereas 68 years old. Felice was always noted for her spotless home, She a warm hearten person,loving her children, and always taking her of her parents. When her mother had a stoke, she would weekly do her laundry and make her meals when she could during the weekends when she had time. After she retired, she did volunteer at Oxford Hospital She stopped her work at the hospital after they started to do abortions at the hospital. She was a strict Roman Catholic, would attend mass every week that she could,which was most Sundays. One of the nicest people of this world deeply missed by her family and friends. Every person I have talked to since her passing ,always talked about her in such kind words.
Filippa "Felice" was born in a small farming town called Sulmona, Italy on September 29, 1905. She was the second child born to Panfilo "Paul" Letterie and Annunziata "Nancy" (Centofanti) Letterie. Her mother had a difficult time with the delivery and recovery, so Felice was raised by her grandmother Graziosa "Grace" Centofanti who lived in the same town until she was five years old. The family moved to America in 1912 when she was six years old. The family came to America through Ellis Island, NY. The family first moved to the Dunbar, Pa area where her father Paul, got a job in a steel mill. Because her mother Nancy (Annunziata), did not like the climate and since it was getting harder to get make a living, the family moved to the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia was there that he father got a job with the Reading Railroad. The family initially rented a house while Paul worked on steam nine at the local railroad yard. While living with her family, Felice went to school until the sixth grade, when she had to quit school to help support the family. She started to work when she was thirteen, and worked all of her life until she was sixty eight. She worked most of her life in the various textile mills in Philadelphia. For the most part the work was hard with long hours in what was known as a "sweat shops", dating back before the Child Labor Laws were passed. The work, was that of being a Spinner, turning raw cotton into balls of yard. Later the family purchased a home on Somerset Street, in the same section of the city. The house it self was a" house and a half" type, which meant it had a small separate building to house borders. Salvatore Centofanti, who was one of these borders at the Letterie family household. Salvatore had came from the same town in Italy as the Letterie family had came from, became a border in 1918. Paul helped Salvatore get a job on the Reading Railroad as a fire cleaner. Nancy Letterie's maiden name was also Centofanti, although there was no relationship between the two families. The name Centofanti seems to have been a fairly common name in the Abruzzo (Central section) region of the country. Nancy, Felice's mother, baby sit Salvatore, when he was a child in Italy. Felice and Salvatore began to date and later married him at the age of sixteen. For the most part the marriage was arranged by her mother and father. They were married on June 21, 1922 at St. Anne's R.C. in Philadelphia. The family could not afford a reception, the couple did go on two-day honeymoon at Atlantic City, NJ.
They initially lived with her parents and later moved to the 2400 block of Mercer St. where they rented a two-bedroom house, located just around the corner from her mother. Their Frist two children, Joseph and Dominic were born in this house with the assistance of midwifes. This was a common method of birth during these times. The family later purchased and moved to their first home at 2812 Memphis St. The following children were born in this house: Umberto (Albert), Donato (Daniel), Rita, Salvatore, Pasquale (Pat), and Nancy. Albert died at the age of 15 months due to Pneumonia, while Daniel died of a heart condition. Lortea, Felice's second daughter, also died of Pneumonia at the age of only 12 days. Salvatore Jr. was the first child to be born in a hospital, that being Episcopal Hospital, on April 20, 1932. Pat and Nancy followed, each being born at Episcopal. In 1940, the house was sold to Uncle Walter (Whitey) and Aunt Betty. The family then moved to 2960 Aramingo Ave. in the Port Richmond section of the city. There, the last two members of the family where born, they being Ronald and Paul, at the Kensington Hospital for Women in Philadelphia. Felice had a total of eleven children. During these times of giving birth, she would only be home for a short time, enough to get the baby stable, within months, she would return to the spinning mills. Life during these times were hard for the family. During the Great Depression, she worked for a short time in a cigar factory, cutting tobacco leaves to make covers for cigars. She loved country and western music, especially Eddie Arnold and Tennessee Williams. One of her favorite songs was "Now is the Hour" which was a love song dating back to the WI. Although she worked, she was always noted for a clean house, cleaning the entire house weekly, each person having a job to do. When she had time, she would crochet things such as hats, and table covers. Felice was a excellent homemaker even though she worked a full-time job during these times. She was responsible for keeping the family stable.
The family then moved in October 1954 to the Lawndale section of the city, living at 812 Kerper Street 19111, (215)PI2-2743. Mom, as she was known to her kids along with Pop went to Europe on a vacation in the summer of 1974 stopping in Sulmona, Italy to visit Pop's remaining family for two-days. She always enjoyed her family and friends. Her family dinners where famous, especially her Italian meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Few will forget them, because the family was so big only two families at at could be there for dinner, other families would stop by after dinner for a visit. But none would forget the dinners which first started wit a salad, then some special Italian dish, spaghetti and her famous meat balls, generally where the starters, followed by the main course which consisted of Turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Ham for Easter and New Year's. The main course would naturally have vegetables rolls, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, etc. The meal then shifted to a fruit bowl, and hot chestnuts with house wine. After some good conversation, she would brig out the coffee and cakes, consisting of pies, cakes, and Italian pastries, some home made, some made by other members of the family. The meals were famous, the food was excellent, the meals generally started about 1:30PM and lasted until to about 7:00PM.
She continued to work at the textile mills (Shears Mills, Inc.) until they closed the plant and moved it to North Carolina. She then got a job at the Oxford Hospital in Philadelphia. She later retired and continued to live at 812 Kerper Street. She lost her husband, "Sam", on May 4, 1981. Mom was lost without "Pop" and she lived only a short time, passing on, on a hot August afternoon, August 10, 1982. We all have met many interesting people in our lives, although I know I am Bais in my feelings, I have not yet met a person who worked harder and accomplished more with very limited resources. She was a warm, kind person and true mother to her family. A sincere friend to her family and neighbors, one person few will forget. She is the reason why, I have written this family tree.


Paul Centofanti
June 1993