Adeline Rose Bencriscutto (nee: Catapano)

 

 https://meredithfuneralhome.com/obituaries/adeline-rose-bencriscutto.141483

 https://meredithfuneralhome.com/obituaries/adeline-rose-bencriscutto.141483#memories

02-08-1925 to 10-12-2022

Adeline Bencriscutto (nee: Catapano), age 97, passed away on October 12, 2022 at the Ridgewood Care Center. She was born in Racine on February 8,1925 to Michael and Carmela (née Sanino) Catapano. She graduated from Horlick High School in 1943 and notably was elected by popular vote to all four class offices in her senior year. On August 17,1946 she married Louis Bencriscutto. 

Along with raising a family, she never had an idle moment. With her can-do personality, she took on a remarkable array of projects over the years. She could easily be found doing anything from reupholstering her dining room chairs to covering her shoes with fabric to match a dress. A childhood toy stove led to a lifetime love for cooking but her talents weren’t realized until she began working at The Spinning Wheel Supper Club. With just a housewife’s background, she created a popular lunch buffet and took on banquets and special parties to great success, eventually managing the whole kitchen. In later years while spending winters in Florida, she pursued many interests from line dancing to bridge in between reading every book she could get her hands on. She continued her cooking, though, and became well known for her dinner parties. 

 Adeline is survived by her children, Richard, Denise, and Ralph (Rhoda); grandchildren, Emily, Louis (Amy Urban), Sydney (Taylor), Raphael, Dalton (Jennifer) Martin, Lauren (Alex) Bissegger; greatgrandchildren, Sophie, Amelia, James, and Isla Bencriscutto, Sebastian Martin, and Benjamin and Henry Bissegger; brother Michael Catapano (Louise Urdialis); Sister-in-law Antoinette Nilo. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers Joe, Ralph, and Maurice, and sister Lucy Rudelich, Mike and Martha Bencriscutto, Fred and Irene Bencriscutto, Santo and Mary Bencriscutto, Frank and Jean Bencriscutto, Vincent and Jane Bencriscutto, Irene and Herman Porcaro, Esther and Dante Renzoni, Rosalie and Ray Pulda, and Ernest Nilo. In her memory, we hope you will hold your glass in toast to her while enjoying your next great meal. Services will be private. 

 

This post is to mark the passing of one of the youngest of the original Bencriscutto clan, Rose Pulda. She will be missed.

https://meredithfuneralhome.com/obituaries/rosalie-c-pulda.141103

Rosalie C Pulda, 91, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, went to be with the Lord, September 7th, 2022.

Rose was born in Racine on October 30,1930, daughter of the late Gregorio and Catherine (nee: DeRose) Bencriscutto. She attended school at Sacred Heart and Horlick High School. On July 5th, 1952 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, she was united in marriage to Raymond S. Pulda who preceded her in death on February 1st, 2015.

Rose was a woman of great faith and strong prayer. She was a devoted wife and mother, raising five children. She enjoyed and supported her children in all their endeavors, especially their athletic activities.

Rose loved her big Italian family and heritage. She was an active member of the Vittoria Colonna at Roma Lodge, where she volunteered at many of their festivals. Rosie loved shopping, golfing, bowling, playing cards, puzzles, bingo, and various crafts.

Rose enjoyed the time she spent living in Mesa, Arizona, making wonderful friends and memories. In 2018, she returned to Racine, residing at St. Monica’s Senior Living Community, where she spent her remaining years surrounded by loving family which included 13 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

Rose is survived by her children and grandchildren: Jeff (Debbie) Pulda of Racine, Brian, Cori (Nate) Wiedrich, and Amy (Steve) Tajnai; Tom (Peggy) Pulda of Racine, Greg (Amanda), Kristen (Jared) Pedersen, Brittany (T.J.) Bodnar, Alissa (Mike) Bergmann, Josh (McKenna); JoAnn (Dan) Huck of Delafield, Mary (Jon) Palmer, Steve (Laura), Anna (Nate) Smudde; Corine (Dean) Lucich of Reno, Nevada, Matt (Andrea), Ciera; Mary (Anne Boettcher) Pulda of Tucson, Arizona; 27 great grandchildren, sister Toni Nilo of Ohio and sister-in-law Adeline Bencriscutto of Racine, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Rose is preceded in death by her brothers: Santo (Mary), Vince (Jane), Louis, Mike (Martha), Fred (Irene), Frank (Jean) Bencriscutto; sisters, Irene (Herman) Porcaro, Esther (Dante) Renzoni, and brother-in-law Ernie Nilo.

Rose will be remembered for her loving, caring, and generous nature. We will always remember her smile, laughter, fun-loving and witty personality.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 13th at 12 noon at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 1401 Grove Avenue, Racine. Friends and relatives may meet with the family on Monday, September 12th at Maresh-Meredith Funeral Home, 803 Main Street, Racine from 4pm until 7pm (Vittoria Colonna Service 6:00 pm), and Tuesday at the church from 11 until 11:45 am..

The Pulda Family extends their sincere gratitude to all those at St. Monica's who showed our Rosie compassion, care, joy, and love.

 

A WONDERFULLY GIFTED FAMILY!

The original Bencriscutto nuclear family was blessed with a variety of talents.  We all know about the musical prowess that exists in our DNA.  Athletics is another obvious attribute that the family shared.

My research unearthed the attached letter regarding Fred's excellence in athletics during his three years at Horlick High School.  Most of us can appreciate the level of athleticism necessary to win nine varsity letters in three years at a large public high school, like Horlick, where the athletic completion was formidable.

For Fred, athletics, combined with academics, evolved into a lifetime of teaching, coaching and mentoring. Clearly, the Bencriscutto family provided a solid foundation for Fred.

Fred returned from WWII to pursue what he loved, teaching, coaching and athletics.  He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and won two varsity letters in both basketball and golf.  He was a 1951 graduate with academic honors.  Below are pictures from Fred's years at Madison.

Not long ago, Rick shared an article about the meaning of the name 'Bencriscutto'.  Fred is only one example of how appropriate that meaning is.  Truly, the Bencriscutto family was 'well reared'!

The Bencriscutto family earned their part of the 'American Dream'.

 

This picture was among the memorabilia my dad (Fred) had in a photo album which includes (right to left) Uncle Dante, Aunt Esther, Fred, Uncle Louis and Aunt Adeline - I think. I can use some help from my cousins to double check my identifications!

The picture was obviously taken after the men were back from serving in World War II.  I'm not sure where or when. Maybe someone can fill in a few more details regarding the picture. What a great looking family!

The picture above is of my dad and big brother Vince.  It was taken in Texas while my dad was in advanced artillery training prior to him being deployed to Europe to fight the Axis.  Vince was stationed in Texas at the time and I believe it's where he met Jane.  The rest, of course, is history. 

The photo above is from the Racine Journal an it recognizes the five Bencriscutto brothers who served their country during the Second World War.  

Not many families gave more to guarantee the future of this nation than did ours.  Let's never lose sight of that sacrifice and commitment.  And, let's not forget that these boys were the sons of Italian immigrant parents!  

Clearly, my Grandma and Grandpa instilled in all their children a love and respect for their country.  We can only hope that the sacrifice of the Bencriscutto brothers and family would serve as a model for the members of our contemporary American culture.

From Blake Avenue in Racine to Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia and The Nuremberg Trials.

While researching my dad's (Fred) WWII service I found these two documents.  

Initially, Fred was deployed to the European Theater as a member of the First Infantry Division, 26th Regiment, Battery B 953 Field Artillery Battalion.  He was a forward observer, responsible for sighting in and directing his battery's fire against enemy targets.

When the war in Europe ended in May of 1945, Fred was assigned to the force of American soldiers tasked with guarding the Nazi leaders who were being prosecuted as war criminals at the War Crimes Trials in Nuremberg, Germany.

Pictured are his I.D. card and area pass for the prison compound at Nuremberg that housed the accused Nazi prisoners of war.  As a sergeant, Fred was responsible for a detail of American soldiers who were in constant supervision of those interned at the prison for trial.

Like many WWII veterans, Fred didn't speak much about his experiences as a 19 year old fighting the Nazis in Europe.  Liker his older brothers Santo, Vince, Louis and Mike, Fred honorably and ably represented the Bencriscutto family and served our country with valor during World War II.

I would love to have attached a picture of the German field binoculars Fred was given by one of the Nazi officers he was responsible for while at the prison at Nuremberg.  That's not possible because I left those binoculars on a CTA bus while on the way home from Wrigley Field at age 14.  Needless to say, my dad wasn't too pleased about my close up look at the game.

"Bencriscutto" means...

 

 

Mary Pulda was kind enough to send some marvelous pics to Adeline recently. I've never seen this one and have no idea who the cute girl is on my father, Loui's arm...or should I say girls...lol

If anyone knows, please post a reply!

Also, you can't be a "Bencriscutto" and not know that the name means "Well Raised" well...according to this Journal Times article by Tex Rynolds about Dr. Frank Bencriscutto conducting a concert  at Park High School, Bencriscutto was originally spelled, "Bencrisciuto" confirming the meaning Well Reared.

Find the article below...and...Thanks Mary for the Great Pics & Article!!