Filomena “Fannie” (Piccoli) Langello, a longtime resident of Johnston and the oldest parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Church, passed away on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Cherry Hill Nursing Home. She was 105 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. off of Flatbush Avenue, she was the daughter of Italian immigrants from Dugenta, Naples, Italy. Her parents were Andrea Piccoli and Anunziata Iannucci. She was raised alongside 11 brothers and sisters in a three-family tenement house on Lafayette Street in Johnston. Her family raised chickens, worked the land and cultivated a mini vineyard for homemade wine. At the age of 12, she was taken out of school to work the mills, and while she was never formally educated she was a smart woman who worked hard and lived a life full of kindness and integrity maintaining strong ties with her siblings and their offspring her entire life. She married a postal worker, Anthony James Langello Sr. of Bristol, and together they raised a son in that very tenement house she grew up in.
Fannie had enormously strong faith and was a life long parishioner of Our Lady Of Grace Church. She was an avid card player, often hosting a game night at her apartment up until she was well into her 90’s. She loved bingo, trips to the casino and traditional family Sunday dinners. Fannie was well known for some irreplaceable dishes, most notably, her home made Italian Pizzelles. After turning 100, she was honored by Mayor Polisena, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Governor Gina Raimondo as one of the Rhode Island Centennials. She was one of the most popular residents of Cherry Hill Nursing home up until her passing.
Fannie is survived by her son, Anthony James Langello Jr. and his wife, Margaret, of Warwick; her granddaughter and grandson, Toni (Langello) D’Antonio and John D’Antonio of Brooklyn; her “adopted” grandson, James Souza of Stamford, Conn.; and two sisters, Rose Magness and Celia Floyd. She was predeceased by nine siblings, Louis Piccoli, Michael Piccoli, Theodore “Teddy” Piccoli, Vincent “James” Piccoli, Christina Ferrara, Constance “Connie” Marrone, Julia Ciarciaglini, Carmella Bruno and Anne Cardillo.
Fannie has left behind a life drenched in family history and a legacy of tremendous family values, which has paved the way for the next generation to live by example. As one of the bright lights of Johnston, the many who called her Auntie Fannie, the few who called her Momma and the family that simply called her amazing, will miss her neverending positive spirit and will never forget her.
