Birth name: (Pietro Giovacchino Vincenzo Natale). Natale means Christmas in Italian. Jim was born in the Abruzzi region of Italy in 1889 in a small village called Taranta Peligna which is 35 mi from Chieti & 130 mi east of Rome. His parents were Panfilo Natale & Elisabetta Madonna Natale. He was baptized at St. Nicola church in Taranta. He was the 6th of 9 children
Jim's father, Panfilo, was a shoemaker. He was also the Mayor of Taranta Peligna.
Jim followed in the footsteps of his 3 brothers & immigrated to America because there were no jobs. At the age of 15.5 years he left Naples and arrived in NY on the SS Germania on June 5, 1905 He had $6 in his pocket & couldn't speak any English. He stayed with his uncle Dionisio.
He then went to Yonkers, NY where he worked as a stone mason helping finish Ellis Island. He loved opera even at 17 & would go to the Met. He couldn't afford a ticket, but he would stand in the back. Once he saw Rigoletto. When he had a little wine he would start singing La Donna Mobile. I loved hearing him sing.
Later, he went to Greensberg, PA and worked in the coal mines.
He then signed up for WWI and was in 3 major battles. He was deployed from Camp Lee, VA. He was in the Meuse Argonne Offensive where he was shot in the shoulder Nov 1, 1918 & received the Purple Heart. He could no longer be a stone mason.
Because of his service, he was granted naturalization in the US of which he was very proud. After the service, Jim moved to Denver where his brother, Joe had opened the Red Front Shoe Shop at 15th & Champa. Both had learned the shoemaker trade in Italy from their father, Panfilo. Jim did shoe repair for his career. Joe made custom shoes.
He met his love Mary Patch & they married on April 24, 1921 at Mt. Carmel Church in Denver. They lived in "Little Italy," in Denver with strong family ties for those of southern Italian descent.
Jim always very patriotic. He was President of the local Murphy Borelli chapter of the DAV. He also was a member of the American Legion & Assoc. Shoe Repairmen.
He was a wonderful grandpa and provider for his wife & little son. He loved my cherry pie! Grandpa taught me about honesty, integrity, self discipline & hard work.
It is amazing he would come to America not knowing the language and succeed as he did. I'm proud to be his granddaughter.
Birth name: (Pietro Giovacchino Vincenzo Natale). Natale means Christmas in Italian. Jim was born in the Abruzzi region of Italy in 1889 in a small village called Taranta Peligna which is 35 mi from Chieti & 130 mi east of Rome. His parents were Panfilo Natale & Elisabetta Madonna Natale. He was baptized at St. Nicola church in Taranta. He was the 6th of 9 children
Jim's father, Panfilo, was a shoemaker. He was also the Mayor of Taranta Peligna.
Jim followed in the footsteps of his 3 brothers & immigrated to America because there were no jobs. At the age of 15.5 years he left Naples and arrived in NY on the SS Germania on June 5, 1905 He had $6 in his pocket & couldn't speak any English. He stayed with his uncle Dionisio.
He then went to Yonkers, NY where he worked as a stone mason helping finish Ellis Island. He loved opera even at 17 & would go to the Met. He couldn't afford a ticket, but he would stand in the back. Once he saw Rigoletto. When he had a little wine he would start singing La Donna Mobile. I loved hearing him sing.
Later, he went to Greensberg, PA and worked in the coal mines.
He then signed up for WWI and was in 3 major battles. He was deployed from Camp Lee, VA. He was in the Meuse Argonne Offensive where he was shot in the shoulder Nov 1, 1918 & received the Purple Heart. He could no longer be a stone mason.
Because of his service, he was granted naturalization in the US of which he was very proud. After the service, Jim moved to Denver where his brother, Joe had opened the Red Front Shoe Shop at 15th & Champa. Both had learned the shoemaker trade in Italy from their father, Panfilo. Jim did shoe repair for his career. Joe made custom shoes.
He met his love Mary Patch & they married on April 24, 1921 at Mt. Carmel Church in Denver. They lived in "Little Italy," in Denver with strong family ties for those of southern Italian descent.
Jim always very patriotic. He was President of the local Murphy Borelli chapter of the DAV. He also was a member of the American Legion & Assoc. Shoe Repairmen.
He was a wonderful grandpa and provider for his wife & little son. He loved my cherry pie! Grandpa taught me about honesty, integrity, self discipline & hard work.
It is amazing he would come to America not knowing the language and succeed as he did. I'm proud to be his granddaughter.
Gravesite Details
Burial Feb 24, 1962; Mass Feb 23, St. Patricks
