religion/devotional practices
post WWII conditions
package received from the US
old age
Colletorto
January 23, 1946
Dear Brother1,
Today I received the package. It’s about five kilos and contains 17 pieces in all of clothes and
other articles, both new and used. There’s a pair of used shoe soles, and a new piece weighing a
half a kilo. I can’t say how much we appreciate this. My daughters are enthusiastic for everything,
and can’t thank you enough for sending these things. They want God to bless you with health.
Dear brother, here we will need time before things can be restored. Let’s hope that with time
things will get better. Mother2 received one hundred dollars before Christmas but so far no letters.
Here whoever has relatives in America has received boxes, and are receiving them still. We’re
fortunate that there is this help, because fabric here is very expensive–five or six hundred liras for
every meter. Cousin Filomena wrote to Mother saying she will be sending a package. Aunt Anna
Maria also has sent us a package of used stuff, but we have not received it yet. We are doing
fairly well. The season3 has been poor for us as well because of the drought, and we carry on as
best as we can. I’m sorry for our mother who is suffering her old age with many ailments and
mortifications, since our father is worsening with each passing day. She must worry about the
considerable cost of wheat–a quintale4 of grain is 7,000 liras–and he just thinks about eating and
cursing. This is the penance that Christ has granted her – but not him. Father has never considered
us, his children, but we too have to carry this cross.
No matter. I’ll stop now. Greetings and kisses to you all.
Your loving sister, Lucia
Dear Uncle,
We don’t have ways to thank you for the package because, as Mother has explained to you, here
the situation has not improved much. Dear Uncle, we’re so willing to come to America to see you
again and to meet the uncles and the cousins. We are sure things are much better there. America is
always in our conversations and you’re very lucky to be there. Dear Uncle, don’t worry about
Aunt Mena because she has received many packages from her husband’s relatives. Rather, send a
package to us and to Aunt Loreta5. Greetings and kisses to the uncles and cousins and to you.
Your niece, Zelia.
Greetings and kisses to you all, Lena, Dorina end Vincenzino.
Teodoro Ritucci, Fiorentina Ritucci DiLallo’s brother, living in the US
Annamaria Lariccia Ritucci
3
the past summer? Stagione in some part of Italy can also mean “summer.”
4
100 kilograms
5
Fiorentina’s sister
1
2