The Carnevales’ history in America dates back to 1859, when Rocco Carnevale arrived here from Pettoranello.
By: Bethany Cortale
Christina Amalia Carnevale of Princeton will celebrate her 100th birthday on Thursday surrounded by friends and by a family that has been part of Princeton life for generations. So far as is known, Mrs. Carnevale wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother is the oldest living female native of Pettoranello, Italy, a town from which many members of Princeton’s Italian-American community trace their ancestry.
"Ten percent of Princeton residents come from one small town in Italy," said Nicholas L. Carnevale of Lawrence Township, Mrs. Carnevale’s eldest son. Mr. Carnevale former president of the Princeton Pettoranello Foundation and the Princeton Rotary Club, former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of the Princeton Area cited various factors to account for this, but chief among them was the area’s need for skilled stoneworkers, artisans and gardeners.
A heritage of industry and pride was recognized by Princeton Township 11 years ago when Pettoranello Gardens one of the area’s loveliest retreats was opened.
"Community Park North, which was a town dump, was turned into a 13-acre park by a township decree in conjunction with the Joint Recreation Board," said Mr. Carnevale, one of the project’s leaders. Nicholas Carnevale serves as chairman of the advisory board of Globalvalue Investors Corp. in Princeton Junction.
Initially, the reclamation project was spearheaded by Princetonians who had ties to Pettoranello, but eventually the entire community came together to make Pettoranello Gardens a reality and to keep them thriving and flourishing.
The Carnevales’ history in America dates back to 1859, when Rocco Carnevale arrived here from Pettoranello. Pettoranello ("hill crest"), settled in pre-Roman times, is located in the region of Molise (Isernia province) in central Italy, about 75 miles southeast of Rome. Rocco’s son, Angelo Sebastian Carnevale, was born here in 1896 and served with American forces during World War I.
According to Nicholas Carnevale, Italian workers in America went back "home" as often as they could, so that ties to their families and their native towns were never broken.
On one visit to Pettoranello, Angelo and Christina were introduced to each other by her father, "as was the way in those days." They were married on Dec. 17, 1925, but it wasn’t until March of 1926 that the bride was able to join the groom permanently in America. They remained together until 1981, when Angelo Sebastian Carnevale died.
America was a new world, indeed, for Mrs. Carnevale. "Mother was wonder-struck at the quiet and the greenery on The Great Road, know then as Cedar Grove Road," said Nicholas Carnevale. Mrs. Carnevale assisted her husband’s work in the greenhouses, where he produced new strains of flowers. They raised four children. She was renowned for her baking skills and crochet artistry.
"My mother was really ahead of her time," said Evelina C. Gargione of Lawrence Township, Mrs. Carnevale’s daughter. "She insisted that her children receive an education, and she was very interested in politics and current affairs."
But politics never got in the way of Mrs. Carnevale’s heart, Nicholas Carnevale said. In the closing months of World War I, while living in Pettoranello, she was one of a few women with enough courage to collect loaves of bread to throw over the fence to prisoners of war.
"My mother always believed you had to give to those who were less fortunate," said Ms. Gargione.
During the Depression, "my mother always left a plate of food and dessert on a garden table near the street to feed wandering homeless people," said Nicholas Carnevale. "There were many in those days."
Mrs. Carnevale has good days and not-so-good days, family members said. On really good days, they witness the curiosity that made her a keen lifelong observer of current events, at home and abroad. "She had a lot to say about Bill Clinton," Nicholas Carnevale laughed. Mrs. Carnevale is fond of rounding off her reminiscences with a heartfelt "God bless America and its people."
In honor of the matriarchal milestone, the Carnevale family including Nicholas and Evelina’s siblings, Alfonso A. Carnevale of Media, Pa., and Angelo A. Carnevale of Hopewell will be hosting an informal gathering at the Italian American Sportsmen’s Club off Governor’s Lane. Guests will include family and friends, as well as visitors from the town of Pettoranello.
The Princeton Pettoranello Foundation makes sure that the "sister city" relationship between the two towns remains vibrant.
"Grants have been established for Princeton residents to go over to Pettoranello to study, as well as exchange groups for Pettoranello residents to come visit Princeton," said Nicholas Carnevale.
"In April 2002, more than 100 people from Pettoranello will be coming to Princeton during an East Coast tour."
It’s all in the family, you see. As they say in Italian, A la famiglia! (here’s to the family!).