A West End Romance That’s Lasted Decades
This Valentine’s season, we’re sharing the love story of Martha and Joseph Morello, who met in the old West End. On February 14, 2022, they celebrated the 60th anniversary of their engagement.
Here is Joseph’s story in his own words. He submitted it to The WEM after reading a request in a recent Museum email for West End love stories.
It was August 1960, and the Saint Dominic Feast was in full bloom. The impressive parade, sponsored by the Saint Dominic Society and assisted by the Augusta Fraternal Associates, had proceeded through the West End streets and had returned to its base beside the Joseph Russo Funeral Home. As evening fell, the adjoining streets filled with people enjoying the food vendors and the music.
As a young man with a mother heavily involved in preparing the celebration, I attended to provide support. Having been brought up by immigrant Sicilian parents, I was totally impressed by the Sicilian way of life, its food, its traditions, its people. Walking through the crowd, I spotted a beautiful young lady who I had seen at various times in the West End. I summoned my courage and approached the young lady, named Martha, and introduced myself, sharing that both our parents had a connection to the preparation of this celebration. My joy was that Martha was born and brought up in Sicily with all the Sicilian traditions I loved. Unfortunately, Martha was in a relationship, so I was shot down.
August 1961 and the Saint Dominic Feast was enjoying another impressive celebration. The highlight this year was the sharing of movies of the Sicilian Saint Dominic Feast taken by Joseph Russo. This interested me, so I made my way there. As I walked around, I spotted that pretty young lady, Martha, from the previous year. Approaching her, I made some small talk, and was thrilled to hear that she was no longer in a relationship! We started to date and on Valentine’s Day, 1962, I asked her to be my wife. She said YES, and we were married in September of 1962. On Valentine’s Day, 2022, together with our three children, two grandchildren and their spouses, we [celebrated] the 60th anniversary of our engagement!
Congratulations to the Morellos! Thank you for sharing your West End romance story.