My Italian Story | Strength Between Two Worlds (Presented by John Michael Marino Lodge)

Presented by John Michael Marino Lodge No. 1389 At just 17, Domenica "Memma" Strangolagalli left her entire family and hometown of Ceccano, Italy after World War II — alone, not knowing English, and with no real support system. She arrived in New York City with courage, not connections. Her aunt sponsored her to come live in Corona, Queens, a woman she barely knew. But that didn’t stop her. Memma started working immediately, navigating the chaos of a foreign city, learning the language, and laying the foundation for the rest of her family to follow. This is her story — of resilience, sacrifice, and what it means to be the first.