Birth: October 25, 1893 in Arce, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy
Marriage: November 9, 1911 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Death: October 17, 1955 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Bernardo Polselli, born on October 25, 1893, in Arce, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy, began his journey through life against the backdrop of the turn of the century. His parents, Eleuterio Polselli and Anna Corsetti, instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance that would come to define his existence.
In pursuit of the American dream, Bernardo embarked on a voyage to the United States, arriving on the Canopic on September 8, 1910.
On October 16, 1911 Giuseppe Lombardi became the guardian of Bernardo. While the official document answers some questions (his father had passed away in Italy but his mother was still alive), it raises more questions than it answers. Why, just a few days from his 18th birthday, did Giuseppe become guardian? And, is this the same Giuseppe who is the brother of Bernardo’s wife?
Less than a month after the guardianship was finalized, on November 9, 1911, Bernardo married Angela Lombardi at Mt. Carmel Church in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The Polselli family’s story took a significant turn in 1937 when one of Bernardo’s sons acquired a home for them on William Street in Newton, Massachusetts.
By 1940, Bernardo had found his niche in the workforce, dedicating himself to the laundry industry as a machinist. His commitment to his work was not only reflected in his occupation but also in the contribution he made to the war effort. On April 26, 1942, Bernardo registered for the World War II draft, exemplifying his commitment to his newly adopted homeland. Subsequently, on June 23, 1942, he declared his intention to become a United States citizen, a testament to his desire to fully embrace the privileges and responsibilities of his chosen home.
The 1950s brought a new chapter in Bernardo’s life. He pursued a business venture related to “making energy light.”
On October 17, 1955, Bernardo Polselli’s journey came to an end at Newton Wellesley Hospital. The cause of death was listed as toxemia due to carcinoma rectum. His legacy, however, lives on, as he rests in eternal peace in Calvary Cemetery in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Sources:
- Arce, Italy Birth Certificate
- Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943
- Massachusetts Guardianship Record
- Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
- Massachusetts, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800’s-current
- 1940 United States Federal Census
- U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
- Massachusetts, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1798-1950
- U.S., Index to Alien Case Files,1944-2003
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980
- Massachusetts Death Certificate
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current