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I asked members of the family to jot down notes or thoughts they had about their childhood and the rest of us as we grew up. Memories of a particular time or situation are often seen in many ways, depending on who is doing the remembering…..
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CHARLOTTE ANN PATERNO
Born: July 1, 1926
married
Joseph Nicholas Arcuni
November 25, 1944
Church of the Incarnation
(Manhattan) NY, NY
Children:
Louis Charles P. Arcuni (Pat)
Born: October 29, 1945
Married: July 4, 1975 to Beth Staples
Two children, Jamie and Heidi
Died: June 6, 1982
Toni Lynn Arcuni
Born: September 12, 1950
Married: April 1, 1972 to Gregory Hodge
Divorced: July 10, 1982
Married: September 24, 1983 to James R. Bryant
Joseph Nicholas Arcuni, Jr.
Born: April 21, 1957
Married: May 12, 1977 to Karen Heger
Two children, Katie and Sarah
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CHARLOTTE ANN
Charlotte Ann was the first born and named after her father. She was a warm, loving, headstrong and straight-forward individual and carried these traits beautifully into adulthood. She loved the name Penny and in her teens adopted it as her own (although the family usually continued to call her ‘Charl.’)
Circa 1929/30 – Charlotte, 3-4 years of age
Charl says that “the very first thing I remember of my childhood is an apartment we (Mom, Dad, Lisa & I) lived in. Mom and Dad had gone next door to visit with some neighbors and I was supposed to be sleeping. I guess I woke up and not finding anyone around, I went to the window, opened it or found it open, and climbed out. There I sat with my fat little legs dangling between the bars of the safety guard on the window sill. My next recollection is of people screaming for me to go inside. I bet Mom & Dad were pretty upset at this turn of events!
(Photo of Joseph & Charlotte)
Circa 1930-31
We lived in a dark little apartment with two bedrooms (Ed. Note: 425 Riverside Drive, NY). A baby grand piano graced the living room. If you looked out the window you saw a dark dirty backyard. One day, I was playing outdoors with my friend. She let me ride her tricycle so I asked her to come home with me for supper. We walked in and learned that Mom had company. I don’t think Mom approved of my friend and wouldn’t let her join us for dinner. My little friend was black. Needless to say, I had to take her back home.
Anne, I guess you were too little to remember this story….we lived in Riverdale in a yellow brick house. I was about nine – I guess you were just starting to walk. You had long curls and were so cute. It was summer, and Lisa and I and our friends, Alice and Madeline, were playing under the sprinkling hose in the driveway. We would plug the drain and fill the driveway with a couple of inches of water and really have a good time. I don’t know how you managed to get out on the porch outside of Mom and Dad’s bedroom, but when we looked up, you had poked your head and part of your small body through the concrete posts and were watching us splash in our homemade pool….I called for you to jump down to us (probably about twenty feet). I guess I thought it would be nice if you joined the fun! Anyway, Mom came out on the porch about that time, thank God, and rescued you.
We were living in the same house, and the timing was not much later, when Lisa and I were playing in the cellar. Unseen by Lisa, I shook the coals out from the small hot water furnace (but I don’t recall why). They were fiery red when they spilled to the floor but soon turned black, resembling unburned coal. Then like ‘the sweet thing that I was,’ I told Lisa to pick one up….!! Poor thing got a terrible burn! I guess I got in trouble that time also…..
I think one of the worst years of my life was the year Dad left. I was 14. I thought Dad was the most handsome, wonderful man in the world. I guess I took my hurt and frustrations out on Mom and any adult who dared to say anything against my Dad. It was a sad Christmas that year. Mom wouldn’t get a tree so Lisa and I strung all the ornaments and tinsel on silver garland across the living room.
The years in Yonkers (85 Ridge Road) were mostly fun, despite the arguments Lisa and I would get into over her borrowing my clothes and earrings. She always managed to lose an earring and when she borrowed my clothes she would take up the hems and forget to let them down again. At 16 these things are very important to a girl!
Charlotte was a redhead by choice most of her life. In recent years she decided that strawberry blonde would suit her better. She wore it short accommodating the natural curl and waves. An attractive woman, Charl commanded a striking appearance upon entering any scene. Her inherited (from her grandmother, Nanny) erect stance gave the impression of her being taller than she actually was. Although about two inches shorter than her youngest sister, relatives and friends would be willing to bet that she was several inches taller than Annette.
(Photo of Joseph, Louis Charles, Toni Lynn 1971)
During the years of living on or near Air Force Bases, Penny learned the art of ceramics. She enjoyed it thoroughly and, upon retirement from the Air Force, turned it into a thriving business when they moved to Ft. Myers, Florida. Her talents as an instructor were soon renown in the surrounding area.
Penny is a loving grandmother and very often acts as confidante and morale booster for family and friends. Her cheerful attitude and gracious charm have endeared her to her family, friends and students. She and Joe are a loving couple, enjoying over 38 years of marriage. They have many friends, entertain often, enjoy a variety of activities and constantly make plans for new things to do, and places to see.
Her warmth, friendliness and willingness to help others brought her many friendships throughout the years of Joe’s service career. They are happy and still in love – a rare thing indeed in this modern age! Her independence made her a supportive partner in all their endeavors and her dependency strengthened their love.
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