Anna "Nina" Pelino

Anna “Nina” Pelino 95, of Aliquippa passed away Sunday, September 1, 2024, in the comfort of her home. She was born October 5, 1928, in Pacentro (L’ Aquila, Abruzzo), Italy. She was married for 66 years to the late Celestino Pelino. Nina was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother. Nina was the eldest daughter of Virginia and Ettore Fabilli. She had four sisters and one brother. She was affectionately called “Mama” by her family. At the age of 16, on September 6, 1946, she married Celestino Pelino in Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria della, Misericordia church. Together they lived an exemplary life of devotion to God, family and friends. If anyone needed help, they were there before anyone would ask. They taught their children it is better to give then receive. Celestino immigrated to the United States and found employment at J&L Steel, where his father Salvatore, a World War I combat veteran of the Italian army and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, was working. Celestino then sent for Nina. With her first-born daughter, Luisa, she boarded an ocean liner and headed for America, landing at Ellis Island. She went to Americanization classes to learn English. While she embraced her new country, her home in Aliquippa was a bit of Italy. She kept many values and traditions she learned growing up in the well-preserved medieval village of Pacentro, a town of about 1,200 residents near Sulmona and 110 miles east of Rome. After settling into a home on Plan 12, they had a second daughter, Donna. It was at this home they had gardens, growing their own vegetables. The aroma from Nina’s kitchen brought you back to Italy. She was a superb cook. The doorbell always rang on Sundays, and you never knew who to expect to join the family for dinner. She and Celestino were the happiest sharing their home with family, friends, and strangers. They were perfectionists in everything they did, whether it was cooking, sewing, cleaning or gardening. Her home was spotless. In addition to her culinary achievements, Nina helped make homemade wine ratcheting the wine press when Celestino and Salvatore were at work, even though she never drank a drop of it. While Nina was an excellent cook, she was also a talented seamstress. She worked at Stoff’s men’s clothing shop in Aliquippa, altering men’s suits. When Gimbels opened in the Beaver Valley Mall, she was employed in the bridal department specializing in wedding gown alterations, and other premium alterations. She kept a storehouse of fabric. The volume of completed projects waiting for the right moment to be bestowed upon a loved one was astounding. She created wedding gowns, Holy Communion, Confirmation and prom dresses, as well as three-piece suits and coats. There was nothing that Nina could not sew. As a matriarch of the family, in her quiet but strong ways, she was a graceful, gracious and generous woman, with profound wisdom, an immeasurable, kind heart, and deep faith. Her love for her family was paramount. She cherished being Mama, to her grandchildren with whom she shared her abundance of love and care. Nina is survived by her two daughters, Louise McDonald (Dennis) and Donna Emery (Richard), four grandchildren Denny and Celeste, Anna Emery and Stephanie Harm (Chris) and two great grandchildren; her sisters, Flora Lucci, (the late Biagio), Violetta Rubino (Germano), Amelia Garofolo (Nick); and her brother Giovanni Fabilli (Emma). She was predeceased by her sister Argentina Manfre (Frank). She was also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Nina was not just our best friend but a brilliant mind. A loving mother and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family was immeasurable. It’s hard to imagine the world without her. She was with us for 95 almost 96 years, but somehow it was just not enough. A Mass of Christian burial be celebrated at 10:00 AM Tuesday, September 10, at Mary Queen of Saints Parish, St. Titus Church, where she was a member for more than 70 years. Private interment will be held at Mt. Olivet cemetery.

Anna "Nina" Pelino

October 5, 1928 - September 1, 2024