Maria Amodeo 1913 - 2003

Maria Amodeo  went to St. Mary’s school up to grade 3.  Then the family went to Termini Imerese Sicily and she went to school there where she was placed back in grade 1.  After a couple of years the family returned to Canada and she worked in the family fruit store Amodeo’s on Queen & Bathurst while attending elementary school.  Shortly after, when  Mary was 13 yrs. old, her mother, aged 39,  died of pneumonia.  That was the end of her education.  Being the oldest girl in the family, she had to look after her 3 younger sisters, Santa (Santreena), Victoria & Josephine.  She also had an older brother,  Frank.  Mary’s father, Biagio went back to Sicily, married   Rosa Bova, and brought her back to Canada.  They had one daughter, Rose.  After Mary married Joseph Battaglia at age 19, they worked together in their fruit market “Battaglia’s” on Ossington Ave. until 1962. Then the business was sold and the family moved to the house on Lawrence Ave. where Mary remained until her death on April 18, 2003.

Joseph Battaglia 1910-1975

Joseph was born on January 8, 1910 in Toronto Ontario to Giuseppe & Antonina (Vince) Battaglia.  He attended St. Mary’s separate school up until Grade 8.  He was the oldest of 4 children, Mary, Anthony & Rose.  The family had a fruit market on Eglinton Ave.  When Joseph was a teenager his father took him & his sister Mary to Termini Imerese, Sicily for a few months.  While there he worked on the farm.  He married Maria Amodeo at age 22, on October 25, 1933.  They had 4 children.  He operated Battaglia’s Fruit Market up until 1962.  Then he retired, sold the business & moved his family to the house on Lawrence Ave. East.  After retiring he was able to pursue his interests such as tending to his garden, his pride & joy, & strumming his banjo, which he played by ear.  He was an avid reader.  He could talk to anyone about any subject.  He admired Abraham Lincoln because he was a self educated farmer & still managed to become the   President of the United States.  Joseph died on December 14, 1975.  He was buried in Mount Hope cemetery, Toronto.