Connie Morrione

Connie Morrione was born in New York City on December 6, 1914, to immigrant parents. She often told me how she was so small '"" 5 lbs. '"" that they didn't think she'd survive, and her parents named Immaculata Concepcion in honor of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. You see, her father, Joseph La Rubbio, almost drowned after falling in the East River that day, and he told his wife, Francesca, since it was a miracle he survived, to name the baby after the Immaculate Conception. She was baptized right away in case she died and was carried to church in the arms of an older sister, Tessie. Connie grew up in Brooklyn when Brooklyn was considered 'the country'. She had many siblings, and she outlived all of them. Living across the street from her was another Italian immigrant family '"" The Morriones. And, that family had a handsome young son they called Ben. As it turned out, Ben was Connie's one and only love. In 1936, on February 16th, they married. Times were hard. It was The Great Depression. Eventually, they were blessed with Rosemary and then Frances, nicknamed Cookie as an infant. They bought a little house. Life was pretty good. And, then over 11 years passed and Connie found herself a mother yet again. Benita was born, named for her beloved father, Ben. Connie worked intermittently as a seamstress most of her life, but her family always thought of her as a homemaker, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. In 1961, Connie moved with her family to Bellmore on Long Island where they lived until moving to Colorado in 1975. She was a feisty woman, always spoke her mind. She was God-loving, a devout Catholic Marianist. Family was her #1 priority. Her three daughters gave her seven grandchildren '"" Joey and Risa, Billy and Paul, and Leila, Nadia and Tarek. Before I sat down to write this, Leila handed me a little card she carried with her in her wallet given to her by her grandmother. Let me share this with you as it will give you insight into the heart of Connie: My Love For You By Bruce B. Wilmer My love for you Is like the sky With dreams that soar And hopes that fly. It's like a Never ending ocean, An everlasting, Deep emotion. It has the tenderness Of spring The charm that warmth And laughter bring. It has the simple Strength of stone It shields us from A life alone. It's ever growing, Ever new It's always there, My love for you. Some fond memories of Connie who was known as Mommum to her 7 grandchildren: --She could bake a fabulous New York cheesecake, but she never quite got the hang of driving a car. --She pushed food '"" typical Italian grandma. --If you saw something you liked and didn't buy it, she would admonish you that 'the devil takes the money!' --If any of us asked her what she wanted for her birthday, Christmas, etc., we were issued the standard response, 'You don't have to buy me anything. Just be good!' --Do any of her family members NOT know that she 'saw the Empire State Building go up brick by brick'? --How about 'show a man what you can do and you'll keep right on doing it'? --'Marry somebody who thinks you're somebody'? Connie carried a song in her heart and the words were etched in her mind even as it failed her so badly in her later years. It was Ben who really was the singer, but Connie could usually be seen standing behind him telling him the lyrics. My sister, Rosemary, told me that her last memory of our mother alive is of her singing 'Apple Blossom Time'. This strong woman will forever live on in the hearts of her family. Her determination, her warmth, her love, her SPIRIT are not easily forgotten. We will laugh. We will smile. We will shed a tear. And always, we will embrace the memory of a family matriarch who made an indelible imprint on all of our lives. Words, these words, fail to capture her essence. It is precisely that reason why it is I who am standing before you today. Leila, my oldest daughter, could not find words to adequately convey the magnitude of her life. And I quote. . . Rest in peace my beloved mother. You are with Daddy now.