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Federal Hill Native Brigida Lopreiato Tucci Recently Celebrated Her 100th Birthday
TRecently celebrating her 100th Birthday, Brigida Lopreiato Tucci is a living witness to a well-lived life filled with memorable events.Brigida Lopreiato Tucci is one of five children, born in Providence, RI on April 1, 1908, the daughter of Giuseppe and Maria Francesca Lopreiato. She attended Providence public schools and excelled in the Italian language, receiving gold medals for her written and linguistic excellence. Brigida had thoughts of becoming a teacher as a young girl but, in 1929 she was married to Ralph Tucci, who had come to the United States with his father from Calabria, Italy.The Lopreiato family lived on Federal Hill and, after Brigida’s marriage, the couple lived nearby, off Federal Street between Balbo Avenue and Dean Street. Subsequently, she gave birth to a son, Ralph, who, at two years old was stricken with bone cancer and passed away at the age of three. This terrible loss was followed by the birth of a second son, Joseph.
Brigida, a warm and caring wife and mother through the years, is always very proud and happy to have had so many close friends and caring relatives. The ultimate housekeeper, Brigida excelled in cooking and baking, as well as sewing. Her great ability to write with her beautiful and perfect penmanship in both the English and Italian languages is a life skill clearly defining Brigida’s personality. Her skills were also evidenced by the creation of wedding cakes and wedding gowns made for friends, and the innumerable letters written in English, and especially in Italian, for those who could not write very well to their relatives in Italy. After World War II Brigida made countless packages which were sent to relatives and friends in Italy, meticulously covered with white cloth and addressed with her inimitable printing with indelible ink. They were then taken by her husband, Ralph, to the downtown post office for mailing.
Always through the years she would speak warmly of her many friends who were like “family” such as Rose Lupo, Rose Perri, Yolanda D’Amore, Angie DiNunzio, Laura Marcello Anderson, Eliza Spertini, Lucy Marcaccio, and the Tripodi’s, the Lupino’s, the Cicchitelli’s, the DeParis’, and many others - some of whom are no longer with us. In 1952 the family moved from Federal Hill to Mt. Pleasant and, in that same year, her nephew, John Cicco, left Calabria, Italy, for a better life. He joined the household and rapidly became part of the family. Brigida and Ralph did all they could and more, to ensure that their son’s dream and lifelong goal of becoming a physician would ultimately be realized. She has always been proud of his accomplishments. She is also very happy with the additions to the family of Marjorie and grandchildren, Elizabeth and Paula and, of course, with her great grandchildren, Isabela and Kristofer.
Ralph passed away after suffering a stroke in August, 1989. Brigida continued to reside in the home on Linton Street until 2002 when she moved to an assisted living facility on Smith Street. She is currently residing at Elmhurst Extended Care.
Brigida's years are filled with memories of many happy and satisfying events and some very sad ones. The years have witnessed the passing of most of her “gang”. Those who would regularly call no longer do. She is one of the last of an incredible group of close friends, relatives, and paesani for whom we all have fond and warm memories. Her life can be summarized by her devotion and belief in God, her strong sense of family and friends, and the fact that she was always there when needed.
Happy 100th Birthday Brigida Lopreiato Tucci!l
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