With the death of Sisters-in-Law, a generation of orphans emerges.

New Castle, Delaware and Olde City, Philadelphia.

My Grandmom

Her name was Mary Malizia. Mary was the name she preferred. Mary was born as Onorina Menaquale on May 28 1894 in Colli di Barte, Aqurila, Italy. Mary immigrated to the USA in 1910 with her family, the Menaquale family. The name Mary was part of her new life in the united states. Mary Menaquale was a beautiful young girl in her new country (USA) with her parents (Luigi and Bernadine Menaquale) and Mary’s brothers, Armando, Gerrado, Guido and Fillippo. (Mary’s brother Armando was somewhat famous -He later was honored as a cavalier by Rome.)

While in Delaware, Mary met the love of her life. He was a railroad worker, his name was Luigi Malizia. Mary and Luigi were married September 27, 1914, in New Castle, Delaware. There was a bit of falling out between the families. The Menaquale family had wealth from working with marble in Rome while the Malizia family was poor and worked as laborers. The Menaquale family felt that the Malizia family was beneath them. The Menaquale side wanted nothing to do with the Malizia family, which now included Mary. Mary and Luigi lived in 1214 E 13t hstreet. Luigi’s brother Dominic and his new wife Emelia (Girardi picture is attached) lived 3 houses down on 1208 E 13th street. Emelia and Mary were close friends. They both welcomed new babies into their new homes. Mary had 3 children, Lillian born August 1915, Louis Malizia Jr. born 1917 and Clarence born 1918. Dominic and Emilia Malizia had 1 son, Frances Richard born 1917.

In the spring, The rumors were that there was a virus that had been circulating. Mary did her best to keep her family safe. The virus seemed to die off in the summer. By the end of September 1918, It all changed for Mary. Her best friend, Emelia (Girardi)wife of Dominic Malizia, got sick in September 1918. Mary was by Emelia’s side to help. A few days later, Mary got sick.

After 3 Weeks of fever, Emelia Malizia died of influenza on 10/07/1918. On 10/7, Emelia’s 11 month old son, Frances Richard, died earlier in the day, (Son and mother died in the same day).

3 days later, Mary died. Mary had a high fever for 15 days, she developed pneumonia. She died after suffering with the influenza pandemic of 1918. Mary Malizia (born Onorina Menaquale) was born May 28, 1894 and died 10/10/1918.

The plague of 1918 took the life of Mary (Menaquale) Malizia and Emelia (Girardi) Malizia, along with Emelia’s young son frances Richard. The poverty that came with the devastation from the virus of 1918 resulted in Mary’s children going into an Orphanage in Delaware. The young baby Clarence died of consumption in the orphanage in Delaware. The death of Clarence led to the Malizia and Menaquale families each deciding to take 1 child each into their homes.

Scholasta (Malizia) Marinelli took in Louis. Scholasta raised Louis with her 9 children. They didn’t have much money. The descendants of the children Scholasta raised remain close to this day. They survived all that the 1918 pandemic brought. They didn’t have much, but they were close and they were happy.

Bernardina Menquale took in Lillian after Mary’s death. Lillian worked as a servant to the Menaquale family in Bernardina’s 3 story home on Linden Street, at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Lillian wasn’t allowed to eat meals with the Menaquale family. Lillian was only allowed to pick thru the scraps of food that the Menaquale family didn’t eat. After the pandemic, the Menquale family kept their image as perfect as possible, they were a family of means and being perfect mattered. Another words, Money and image mattered. The Family had incidents were they disowned family, I attached an article on that, just to give an idea of how the family was. Lillian survived her upbringing with the Menaquale family as an outsider. Lillian married and had her own children and grandchildren. The sorrow that came from Mary’s death in 1918, followed Lillian throughout her life.

Lillian’s father Louie, started drinking heavily, He never remarried and died at the age of 51. Luigi lived with his sister, Scholasta Marinelli, until he died. Luigi survived the loss of Mary, but the alcohol he used to cope led to his downfall. Luigi never got over losing Mary, he never dated again and died alone at his sister Scholasta’s home.

Luigi’s brother Dominic did remarry, and had more children. Dominic lived a happy life with a new wife and many children.

My Grandmom Lillian longed for a family. Lillian never made peace with this life and losing her mother haunted her. With Lillian’s death, she was reunited with her mother. Lillian died of Cancer in 1976. As Lillian was dying of cancer, I know she looked forward to seeing her mother once again. Lillian’s Menquale family never came to her funeral. The Malizia family came to her funeral and cried. I just don’t understand family’s sometimes. All I know is the sorrow that started when Mary died in 1918, followed Lillian until her Death in 1976. And my part of telling their story will hopefully leave them with peace. I will get more details about Clarence, the baby that died. I haven’t been able to locate a birth certificate or death certificate. But I have been assured that Clarence died and the involvement of all 3 children going into the orphanage.

My views in the Pandemic of 1918 are that the sorrows of the loss and follow the survivors thru life. We can recover from an economic disaster. In 1918, many of the families that were left with nothing, rebuilt their lives. In 1920, we will recover as well. Stay safe and Healthy. We are all in this together.

Contributed by Deneen Lamancusa, Great Granddaughter of Mary Malizia.