La famiglia è la patria del cuore. 
~ The family is the homeland of the heart.

In the summer of 1911, a young Italian woman named Rosa Galie ventured from her home town of Ascoli Piceno with her father, Filippo. She was only 23 when they boarded a steamship the Berlin and left the Port of Naples to travel to America.

The journey across the Atlantic took about 2 weeks. Rosa and her father, along with other weary immigrants, patiently waited to set eyes on the Statue of Liberty. The incoming ship docked in the quarantine area at the entrance to the New York Harbor. After initial examination by inspectors, the Berlin traveled onward to Ellis Island.

As the grand statue came into view, the awe of it reduced some passengers to tears. Others would holler, “we see the lady” in their native tongue with shouts of joy and laughter erupting from the decks.

The wait was not over just yet. Long lines were formed as the passengers disembarked and were processed through Ellis Island. The new immigrants were examined and inspectors had to determine if they were healthy enough to enter the United States to work. To process the crowds quickly, sometimes as many as 5,000-10,000 people a day, the immigrants were granted entrance “without papers” or WOP’s, which became a slang word for Italians.

Filippo and Rosa were not admitted immediately; her father had an ailment and was detained for two days while being checked for diseases. Rosa stayed with him while inspectors decided whether or not he was allowed entrance. The stress it must have caused not knowing if he would be deported-young Rosa would have to make the choice to stay in New York alone or travel back to Italy with him. Luckily, they were both admitted into the U.S.

Meanwhile, in Delaware, a young Italian man named Nicola John Sarro lived with his wife Arorello Cassi and their two little girls-Mary and Lucia (b.1911). Nicola was born as an American citizen in Felham, New York to Italian immigrant parents named Pasquale and Nunciata Sarro. Sadly, Nicola’s wife passed away, leaving daughters to raise alone.

Nicola met Rosa and they began seeing each other. He brought a daughter along one day to meet her. Another time he brought a second child along. She asked him directly “just how many kids do you have?”. 

The couple married on August 2, 1914 and Rosa raised the little girls as her own. The couple had 5 more children together-Patrick (b.1915), Filippo (b.1917 – d.1917), Theresa a.k.a. Daisy (b.1918), Anthony (b.1921), Emma (b.1923) and Philip (b.1928).

The couple lived in Bristol, PA for several years. Nicola’s WW1 draft registration card listed their address at 742 Corson Street. Rosa’s brother, also named Filippo Galie, came to America in 1927. He lived near the Sarro family in Bristol. A rift would break the sibling relationship apart. Even though her brother moved to Conshohocken with his wife and 11 sons, the families did not see each other. Galie’s and Sarro’s attended the same schools and were friends without knowing they were cousins.

Rosa and Nicola’s son Patrick joined the Army during World War II. He served three years in Europe in a Combat Engineer’s Unit.

While he was still away on duty, a local paper called the Conshohocken Recorder published an open letter to the Sarro family on September 28, 1943:

My Dear Mrs. Sarro: As commanding officer of the 851st Engineer Topographic Company (AVN) I take this opportunity to inform you of the splendid work your son, Corporal Sarro has been doing in the furtherance of our assigned mission. Our organization has been highly commended by our Commanding General and no small part of this has been due to the long hours of faithful and competent service rendered by him.

I take great pleasure conveying this to you, appreciating that you will take as much pride in knowing this ~ as I take in having men of his caliber under my command.

Of complete victory is no doubt. My sincere trust is that when such is accomplished I may lead him home safely.

In 1947, after he returned from the war, Patrick helped his father Nicola and brothers-Tony and Philip build a house for his parents in West Conshohocken on Powers Avenue. Patrick was struck with a board during construction and never quite recovered. He became ill and was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died within 6 months. He was 38 years old.

Nicola passed away two months later after suffering with heart disease. His obituary in the Conshohocken Recorder March 30, 1953:

The death of Nicola J. Sarro of 145 Front Street occurred Saturday afternoon at home after a chronic illness. 
Services will be held Wednesday at the home with a Solemn Requiem Mass at 9:30 at St. Gertrude Church, West Conshohocken. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Gulf Mills. Arrangements are being made by E.J. Ciavarelli.
Born in Fordham New York, Mr. Sarro lived in the community 40 years. Employed in the galvanizing and boiler departments of John Wood Company for more than 30 years. He was a member of the Twenty year Club there. 
He was a member of St. Gertrude Church. His parents were the late Pasquale and Nunciata Sarro. Surviving is his wife Rose Galie Sarro, four daughters and two sons. Mrs. Mary Whitehawk, Lucy Jimenez, Mrs.Theresa Vivian all of West Conshohocken. Emma at home and Anthony of Norristown and Phillip of West Conshohocken. A son Patrick died two months ago.

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Rosa lived for another 20 years in her lovingly built home. She was a tough woman who loved her family fiercely but didn’t care much for outsiders. Rosa said one of her biggest regrets was not being on speaking terms with her brother when he passed away. She instilled in her children and grandchildren to never let a fight come between family.

Rosa Sarro was blessed to have family surrounding her in the late years of her life. Daisy lived next door, Emma lived with her and Philip lived right down the hill from her. Tony’s, Lucy’s and Mary’s families lived nearby. She helped rear Philip’s children-young Philip, Patrick, and Rosie. She was like a second mother to all of them and even though she spoke broken English, her grandchildren always understood and learned from her.

Rosa watched all of her grandchildren grow up-she saw her grandsons enlist in the military during the Vietnam War and Rosie marry and have a son. When Rosie was pregnant with her second child and visiting her beloved grandmother on her deathbed, Rosa told her “you’re gonna have a baby girl and she’s gonna help you do dishes”. Rosa’s words became true…in January I was born and I was a girl – I did not meet my great grandmother. The following year, two more great-granddaughters were born and her family has been growing ever since.

Rosa passed away on October 18, 1974. Upon her death at age 89, Rosa had 26 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter.

The last of the Italian heritage made it to my generation, the food, the Italian curse words, the words of love-I still remember hearing all of them from the elders while growing up. Rosa, Nicola and their children may no longer be with us-but their love and strength live on in la famiglia.

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