ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: FRANCESCA SANTANGELO

Francesca Santangelo (nee Raschilla) arrived in Australia on the 10th of February 1958, aboard the ship Australia. Travelling with her was two year old daughter Felicia. Francesca`s husband Vittorio was already in Australia having arrived November 10, 1955. He travelled on the ship Surriento. Both Vittorio and Francesca were from Nocera Terinese, province of Catanzaro.

Vittorio was living in Fairy Meadow and was working at the Port Kembla Steel Works. Vittorio was also a Tailor and this was his profession in Italy. Once he purchased his house on the Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, he operated a small tailor business from the front room. Francesca would help him with his business. She would cut, sew and do what ever was needed all the while Vittorio was still working at the Steel Works full time. By the early 1960`s Francesca gave birth to her son Fred and another daughter Carla. She was busy with three young children as well as helping husband Vittorio.

Across the road from their house was a small fruit and vegetable shop. Francesca was quite friendly with the owners and around 1966 an opportunity came up and Francesca purchased the business. She obtained her drivers licence and would drive into Wollongong to purchase fruit and vegetables at the FVM fruit market in Kenny Street, Wollongong, and to Davis and Penny for other supplies. The shop was a small corner store. Francesca also sold basics such as milk, bread, canned and dry goods along with newspapers.

Now with the shop, Francesca was extremely busy balancing motherhood and helping her husband Vittorio with his tailoring. They would often drive to Sydney for his supplies of fabrics and sewing essentials. Francesca never stopped, but she thrived on working and loved to engage with people each and every day.

In 1970, whilst running her corner store, Francesca and husband Vittorio purchased a block of land in Sherwood Drive, Balgownie. It was a new estate that had opened up in the heights. They built a brand new home and theirs was the first in the estate. After a short while Francesca sold her business and purchased an existing shop in Balgownie Road. The premises also had a house at the back and an apartment above This business was very similar to her Fruit shop at Fairy Meadow only bigger. She sold fresh produce plus more Italian grocery lines.

In 1980 the family had moved into the house at the back of the shop, having sold their house at Sherwood Drive. After a short while Francesca made the decision to sell some Bomboniere in her shop and had several on display. Francesca would drive to Sydney by herself to get them. She became a wiz at driving and knew all the back streets for the trip. Before she knew it the demand was strong and she and Vittorio built a brand new garage at the back of the property using it as the showroom.

The bomboniere business was expanding at a fast rate. Supplying bomboniere for weddings started to overtake her corner shop business. Francesca made the decision to lease out the Balgownie Road shop and move her Bomboniere business to Warrawong. Many of her customers came from there. She still used her garage for storage but the business now had it`s own shopfront that she rented. The Warrawong store was situated in Cowper street. The migrant community were quite prominent in Warrawong. There were other Italian businesses there as well.

Francesca soon outgrew the Warrawong store and relocated to Railway Street, Corrimal in the Ronald and Glass building, early 1980`s. The shop was much bigger and brand new too! She had such a vast array of bomboniere, gifts and party favours and the range was impressive. Further down the road in Railway Street, Francesca also had another storage shed to house even more stock as well as her garage at home in Balgownie.

The Corrimal shop ran for approximately ten years. The styles of bomboniere had started to change and Francesca could feel the demand slowing down. By the late 1990`s Francesca closed her Corrimal shop and continued running her Bomboniere from her Balgownie home, with the garage/showroom out the back. There was a sign out the front of the house that read Bomboniere Santangelo. It was by appointment only.

After she closed the Bomboniere shop at Corrimal, next door in another building was an existing sandwich shop takeway/cafe. Not one to wait, Francesca purchased the business and away she went. She continued with the existing shop format but she added Italian takeaway food such as lasagna and was an agent for Italian continental cakes.

After a couple of years, she sold the cafe and in the early 2000`s she took over the lease at Corrado`s Deli in Fairy Meadow for several years before returning to take over the Balgownie shop again. The shop was no longer a mixed business and the current owner ended their lease. This time Francesca turned in back into a corner store but with the addition of hot takeaway Italian food and takeaway pizza at night.

I had a wonderful conversation with Francesca`s daughter Felicia. Felicia commented on how Francesca was fiercely independent and defended her work ethic. Felicia also said that with her sister Carla they were always helping their mother in the shops, before and after school, but never felt neglected. Their mother always provided for them. She spoke about her mother`s zest for life and how with all the businesses she ran, all the work she did, the family always sat down to a hot meal cooked by their mother. She remembered days when her mother first ran the Balgownie shop. The Southline Drive-In picture theatre was down the street and the line up of cars to purchase sweets, drink and treats before and after the movies was amazing. Francesca would also take Felicia’s children on occasion with her on the trips to Sydney for the gathering of supplies of bomboniere. Francesca made every moment of her life a memory.

Around 2013, Francesca slowed down her work somewhat to focus on her husband Vittorio. Vittorio was diagnosed with Dementia and she became his carer. Life had changed for Francesca, yet she was still running the shop whilst Vittorio would sit out the back. He was happy to be there and Francesca was able to keep an eye on him. She missed her many friends but devoted herself to care for her husband. In 2015 Vittorio was moved into a nursing home where he needed specialised care. Francesca had now retired from her business and closed it down. She leased out her Balgownie premises once again. Vittorio passed away November 2nd, 2020.

In 2021 Francesca was diagnosed with cancer and yet she still pushed on. She managed to do some things for herself and was able to stay in her home, which enabled her independence.

Affectionately known as `Ciccina`, she served so many people over the years in business. You would often find her at the Fraternity Club socialising with her friends. She always made time to visit or call them whenever she could. I remember her well and she was always happy to see me, she was the same with everyone. Francesca loved people and they loved her! December 19, 2024, Francesca passed away. She was 91 years old.

Francesca and Vittorio are survived by their three children, six grandchildren and five great grand children. Francesca Santangelo was still working at 80 years of age and for almost 50 years she served the community. An incredible contribution indeed!