On the 18th day of the hebrew month of Av (August 2000) we remember the 59th year since our beloved great-grandmother, Behora Reina Candiotti ( La Nona ) died. La Nona was born in Gallipoli Turkey in Feburary, 1875 and was married to Behor Menachem Max Candiotti. Her husband Max died in Turkey. La Nona arrived in the United States around the year 1920.The Spanish Jews named the first born male, Behor, and the first born female, Behora. Reina Candiotti was the first born daughter of the parents David and Kalo ( Kattie ) Candiotti.

La Nona had seven children :

1. Malcuna Pakan who stayed in Turkey and had three children: Menachem, Rebecca and Raphael
2. Rose Sasportas (my grandmother) who had five children: Abraham (my father), Max, Ben, Welcome and Regina
3. Louise Hatten who had four children: Mamie, Jeana, Charlie and Sandra
4. Simcha (Sadie) Candiotti who had two children: Max and Louie
5. David Candiotti had one child: Max
6. Hyman Candiotti had one child: Jeanie
7. Kattie Reinah who had two children: Ester and David

La Nona had several grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two brothers, Solomon Candiotti and Kerido Candiotti. I (Robert Michael Sasportas) was named after La Nona and her husband Menachem. Reina became Robert and Menachem became Michael. Of course my hebrew name is Menachem. La Nona lived in New York City most of her life in the United States and lived her final years in Hartford, Connecticut. La Nona died in Hartford Hospital on August 10, 1941 and was buried in the Mount Hebron Cemetary in Flushing, Long Island in the Candiotti, Life and Charity section. May she rest in peace. Your great-grandson Robert Sasportas.

Welcome DiCicco remembers La Nona

Following is some information I recall about my Grandmother, La Nona:

La Nona, my Mother's Mom, was a beautiful person. I remember La Nona as a very tall and stately woman. She usually wore her lang dark hair in a braid down her back and had a turban around her head. She was neat and refined.

I remember my Mom telling me about La Nona and what a fine mother she was. La Nona was married with children and lived in Turkey. Unfortunately, her husband died after being bitten by a bee. At that time, La Nona was pregnant with Katie. She raised her children in Turkey as a single parent. To the best of my knowledge, La Nona and her husband had 5 girls and 2 boys: Rose (my Mom), Malcuna, Sadie, Louise, Hymie, David, and Katie. I never met Malcuna because she remained in Turkey. I knew all my other Aunts and Uncles. (Robert Sasportas recently told me he met Malcuna's son who lives in Israel).

After La Nona came to this country, she lived in New York. She shared an apartment with her son, Hymie, his wife, and their daughter. Most of her children lived nearby, however, my Mother and Louise lived in the Hartford area. La Nona's apartment was on the 5th floor and at that time there were no elevators. It was amazing how they eagerly climbed all the stairs to the 5th floor.

When I was a child I went to New York almost every summer to spend the summer with La Nona. From their apartment I could look out of the windows and see lots of activity in the streets below. There were pushcarts with everything imaginable for sale. The vendors sold clothes, shoes, fruits, vegetables, household items, etc. At night, the street cleaners regularly washed the streets. It was fun going to New York for the summer. I would see all our New York relatives, go to Coney Island and Rockaway Beach, and have lots of time to do things with La Nona. She was always very kind to me. Sometimes in the evening we would sit on the apartment steps and all the neighbors and people selling products would stop to talk with us.

I recall during the 1930's that La Nona would travel by train from Grand Central Station in New York to visit us in Hartford. Since La Nona did not speak English, she would wear information pinned to her clothing to alert the conductor of her travel destination. Her itinerary was actually pinned to her coat. Aunt Katie would be sure to inform us of the expected time of arrival so we could meet the train and welcome La Nona to Hartford. When La Nona returned to New York, the same routine was followed and Aunt Katie would meet the train as it arrived in New York.

When Hymie passed away, La Nona came to live with us in Hartford. We all spoke Spanish fluently in our home. It was great having La Nona live with us. She was a warm and loving person. Her hobbies included needlework, gardening, and cooking. I will always remember my time with La Nona with love and admiration.

If you have your own personal memories of La Nona please share them with me.
Thank you. Your cousin Robert Sasportas from Karmiel Israel. Click here to send me an e-mail.

Click here for a picture of La Nona and family.