Dina Spagnoli was born Dina Pellerzi on February 16, 1930 in Pelerzo, Bergoto, the municipality of Berceto, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. She was the first child of two, born to Augusto Pellerzi and Teresa Tocchi.
As a young girl in Italy, Dina was raised by her paternal grandmother and paternal aunt Elvira, during trying times in World War II. Near the end of the war, Dina came to the United States of America, as a refugee, with the Red Cross, to live with her parents, who had moved to New York City years earlier to start a new life for their family. Dina soon became acclimated to life in the City and loved strolling through Central Park with friends. Dina attended high school in Manhattan. She then apprenticed for a tailor and became quite gifted at sewing and needle work.
As a young woman, Dina corresponded frequently with her love, Lino Spagnoli, who was also raised in, and, at that time, still lived in, Bergoto, Italy. Within a few short years later, Dina traveled to Bergoto on vacation in 1950, married Lino on September 16, 1950, and brought him back to the Unites States, to start their lives together. In the United States, they were an inseparable team. They started a business, Palin Liquors, bought a home together in the Bronx, and there raised their three boys, who all attended nearby Fordham University.
Dina loved to cook, sew, and raise her sons. She was always happy hosting parties, holidays and Sunday dinners surrounded by family and friends. She was an avid gardener and loved tending to her flowers, herbs, figs and grapes. She loved to travel with Lino to Italy, and, in their later years, all over the country and world.
Dina Spagnoli died on April 8, 2020 at the age of 90 years old, five years after her beloved Lino passed away in 2015. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and loyal friends. She leaves behind her sons, Dennis, Robert and Kevin and their beautiful families, as well as her brother Lino Pellerzi and his lovely family.
Visiting will be Friday, October 9 from 9am to 11am at Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home, 726 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am at St. Clare’s Church, 1027 Rhinelander Avenue, Bronx. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, East 233rd Street and Webster Avenue, Bronx. The family would like to invite family and friends to join them remotely for the visitation starting at 9am at https://zoom.us/j/99896398606?pwd=UDdqdFR4a0RuRzVWL3JOZVVuZ2ZYQT09 – passcode: 876413
