Irene Colontonio Sonzogni
She left behind ten children.
Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA.
My great grandmother on my father’s side, Irene Colontonio Sonzogni, died on October 7th, 1918 of Spanish Flu. She left behind her husband Vincenzo Sonzogni- and her 10 children including a 1 year old (Walter.) She was also pregnant at the time and was buried with her baby.
Vincenzo and Irene met while living in boarding houses next door to each other on 9th street in the Italian market. They would sit on their stoops and talk. And when they went out on dates, Irene’s mother and father would go along with them. Vincenzo did the mosaic tile work in the entrances of John Wanamakers with his brother Giacomo- there was another set of Sonzogni Brothers that stayed in Union City did all of the tiles in the Holland tunnel. Irena’s mother had a grocery store where the Art Museum now is, and the Irish policemen would come in and steal from her (the Irish and the Italians didn’t get along back then).
Vincenzo and Irene lived at 2422 Brown Street in Fairmount. My grandmother Sabina was 11 at the time, and at 14 she had to drop out of Girls High to help raise the family- her older sister Christine had a job, so the task fell to her. Irene’s sister lived a few doors down at 2418 Brown and helped Vincenzo with his kids after Irene died as well. Vincenzo died of heat stroke after re-roofing the house in 1928 and the kids were left to fend for themselves (including now 11 year old Walter.)
Vincenzo and Irene in an undated photo. Courtesy of Rich McIlhenny. 
Sabina, right, at her mother Irene’s grave.
Courtesy of Rich McIlhenny.
The boys spent a lot of time along the river and took to rowing, and eventually became legends in the Fairmount Rowing club- five of the brothers occupied The Italian Eight scull that won Nationals but went on to fight in World War 2 instead of going to the Olympics The Amerigo Sonzogni award is given out each year by the club to this day.
Contributed by Rich McIlhenny, Great Grandson of Irene Colontonio Sonzogni.